But it was the visitors who went ahead inside the opening five minutes when their skipper Sam Collins volleyed in a Fabian Yantorno corner. 
Leon McSweeney then headed over following a cross delivered by ex-York loan defender Evan Horwood, while Alex Lawless tried his luck from distance and Michael Gash headed straight at goalkeeper Scott Flinders at the opposite end.
And it was a mistake from Flinders that presented York with an equaliser before the break when he failed to hold onto Brodie's header after fine work from Leeds United youngster Liam Darville.
His opposite number Michael Ingham then saved superbly from Joe Gamble's volley after the interval and also gathered from Antony Sweeney.
But even he was left helpless as Hartlepool substitute Armann Bjornsson sent a late header against the crossbar after excellent work from fellow replacement Adam Boyd.
York City: Ingham, Darville, McGurk (Sangare 64), Parslow, Meredith, Mackin, Lawless, Smith (Whitwell 70), Till (McDermott 64), Gash, Brodie (Rankine 64)
subs (unused): Knight, Hopcutt, Richardson
Hartlepool United: Flinders, Austin, Collins (Liddle 46), Hartley, Horwood, McSweeney (Gamble 46), Sweeney, Murray (Haslam 79), Monkhouse (Bjornsson 82), Brown (Boyd 62), Yantorno (Behan 66)
subs (unused): Rafferty
Ref: P. Davison (Middlesbrough)
Att: 861 (175 Hartlepool)
>> Terms & Conditions