Jermaine Palmer helped himself to a brace as the reserves beat Hartlepool United 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium.

The starlet netted a goal in each half to ensure a third straight win for the relatively young Potters side.

Steven Istead had cancelled out Palmer's 35^th minute opener for the visitors before for the City striker headed the winner twenty minutes from time.

The visitors, marshalled by former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey, were under pressure right from the start, with Palmer and Lewis Neal both going close within the opening fifteen minutes.

The deadlock was broken though just after the half hour mark, when Toddi Gudjonnsson surged into the United half and released Palmer, who jinked past the 'keeper before smashing the ball past two defenders and into the roof of the net.

United responded well after conceding and from Gavin Strachan's whipped free-kick, Howey's towering header beat 'keeper Sanna but luckily for the home-side cannoned to safety off the post.

Barely a minute later though and the visitors were level as Istead capitalised on a defensive lapse and rolled the ball past the helpless Sanna, ensuring the sides went in level at the break.

The first real chance of the second period came courtesy of Icelandic International Gudjonnson, who drifted in from the City right and drilled a shot goalwards which 'keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos could only tip around the upright.

The lead was finally restored though in the 69^th minute when Neal's lofted cross has headed in-off-the post by Palmer on the edge of the six yard box.

City had 'keeper Chris Sanna to thank for keeping the lead intact as he made a fantastic double save in the final ten minutes.

The stopper first got a fist to substitute Stephen Turnbull's curling effort and then raced off his line to thwart Eifion Williams from tucking home the rebound.

In the dying minutes Gudjonsson teed up Carl Asaba, but from eight yards out the striker steered his shot over the crossbar.

City: Sanna, Denny, Dickinson, Buxton, Keogh, Neal (Smith 70), Gudjonsson, Pulis, Palmer, Asaba, Clark. Subs: Paterson, Duggan, Francis, Thomas.

United: Konstantopoulos, Barron, Low, Fox, Wilkinson, Howey, Istead, Strachan, Daly, Appleby(Turnbull 83), Butler (Williams 45). Subs: Jones, Foley, Winter.