HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner was a relieved man on Saturday.

Relived his side kept a clean sheet, relieved to see his side hold onto a lead and relived to chalk up his first home Leage win of the season.

Three points against an average York side thanks to a workmanlike show may not set the pulses racing, but it was enough to chase away the doubts and ensure there was no hangover of the previous two weeks.

Against Macclesfield and Mansfield, Pool managed to throw away what seemed comfortabe advantages and came away with only one point from what should have been six.

Kevin Henderson's fifth of the season earned the points and while the last few minutes may have been played out ith an air of nervousness, this time there was no giving the game away.

Maybe York weren't good enough to get back, but no one in blue and white was complaining.

But there was plenty of complaints from the visitors, whose second half dispay was greeted with a round of slow hand-claps from the fans who booed their side off.

And while Terry Dolan saved City from a relegation scrap last season he needs to improve on this display if he is to match last season's success.

Not the Pool boss Chris Turner hasn;t got something to live up to though. He reached the play-offs last season courtesy of th second-best home record in English football, thanks in no end to a string of 1-0 wins.

They weren't all as simple as this, but Turner admitted: "I suppose we are back to normal now. 1-0 wins are the same and maybe his was the way forward for us.

"This wasn't about startling football, not because we didn't want to play it, but it was the way of the game. Obviously we were a bit more nervous towards the end than we should have been, but that was becaue of the last two games.

"The response in training during the week has been excellent and it was carried through to Saturday. We got back to basics and got a result because of a workmanlike performance.

"Psycologically, our first win at ome lifts the shadow that has been hanging over the players. I would like to think that we can do like we did last season, but you have to remember that we had an exceptional home record - we were only one point behind Manchester City who hd the best in the country.

"If we can do that then we will certainly do well. We have tried to improve the away results and so far they have been a bit better and now we have to give it our best shot at home.

"Of course we wanted the second goal, but it didn't matter in the end and every team is going to win some games like that - but we should have another five points in the bag.''

Turner brought in Steve Baker on loan to slot in as the middle man in the back three. And the Middlesbrough defendr gave an assured display, surrounded by Gary Strodder and Chris Westwood.

Perhaps the best compliment to pay is that he did the job as well as the man he was brought n to replace, skipper Micky Barron.

"He's only had one training sessionwith the lads, but he was exceptional in that position,'' said Turner. "showed how he is used tothe role at a higher level of football, but adapted to the third division. He is a carbon copy of Micky Barron and filled in well. Chris Westwood is a better marker and he feels more confident in that role rather than having to sweep up and the defence did very well.''

Behind a settled defence Anthony Williams kept his first clean sheet in six outings since replacing the injured Martin Hollund. Williams stopped Pool from going behind when he kept out City's only real opening of the game after 12 minutes.

Alex Mathie held off Baker and Westwood and turned 10 yards from goal, but Williams was quickly off his line to block with his feet.

Mathie showed some good touches and neat line-up play, but his efforts were in vain.

Turner has described Henderson as Pool's "Johnny on the spo" and he was in the right place to steer home Paul Arnison's cut back from six yards on 33 minu. The strike was Henderson's fifth of the season and is well on the way to beating last season's haul of seven and maybe get towards that 20-goal target Turner has been crying out for.

Strike partner Tony Lormor was replaced by Tim Sperrevik in the second half and the big Norwegian almost made it two. Sertori lost his footing and the striker homed in on goal, only to be denied by Fettis who palmed out his fierce drive.

City were down to ten men on 79 minutes when Mark Sertori lunged in on Henderson with a two-footed challenge. Referee Mark Cowburn, who spent most of the game stopping play for niggly fouls and petty offences, had no qualms in showing a red card.rtori protested his innocence, claiming he won the ball but he must have been the only person in Victoria Park to think so.

STRIKER Tony Lormor last night admitted Saturday's victory over York City was just what the doctor ordered.

Pool triumphed 1-0 in an unspectacular game, but Lorartnership with Kevin Henderson heralded its seventh goal of the season, was glad to put the horrors of previous weeks behind.

Chris Turner's team had thrown away leads against Macclesfield and Mansfield in successive games, missing out on five points that would have lifted Pool into fifth spot.

Instead, Saturday's triumph sees Pool on 12 points in 15th place, but Lormor admitted: "I thought we controlled the game without being exceptional.

"It was just a case of getting the right sort of result we need at home. Everyone was a bit nervous because of the last few weeks and I think that translates to the management and fans and the Press as well.

"I think everyone was just desperate for the win and thankfully we got it. The manager said they would set thei stall out and we knew what they were about, but the lads at the back were magnificent.''

l POOL boss Chris Turner revealed defender Graeme Lee will undergo cruciate knee ligament surgery this week after breaking don in training. Lee was on the verge of a comeback after knee trouble had kept him out this season, but collapsed last week.

"We will be lucky if he kicks another ball this season - it will bea long job for him,'' said Turner.

Goal: Henderson (33mins, 1-0)

Bookings: Hocking, Lormor (fouls)

Sending-off: Sertori (serious foul play)

Referee: Mark Cowburn (Blackpool)

Attendance: 3,130

HARTLEPOOL (3-5-2): Williams 7; Strodder 6, Baker 6, Westwood 7; Knowles 6, Miller 6, STEPHENSON 8, Arnison 6 (Midgley 75), Shilton 7; Henderson 7, Lormor 7 (Sperrevik 76). Subs (not used): Robinson, Sharp, Porter (gk).

YORK (4-4-2): Fettis 6; Edmondson 6, Jones 6, Sertori 7, Hall 6; Jordan 6 (Potter 81), Bullock 6, AGNEW 7, Hocking 6; McNiven 6 (Williams 57, 6), Mathie 7. Subs (not used): Reed, Thompson, Howarth (gk).

Man of the match: PAUL Stephenson - kept Pool ticking over