Hartlepool United came within eight minutes of a fairytale promotion during a pulsating afternoon in Cardiff.

Sheffield Wednesday broke the hearts of 16,500 travelling fans when they beat Pool 4-2 after extra-time in the Division One play-off final yesterday.

Goals from Eifion Williams and Jon Daly helped Martin Scott's men take a 2-1 lead in the biggest game in the club's 97-year history.

But the game turned in the 82nd minute when Chris Westwood was sent-off and Steven MacLean equalised from the resulting penalty.

Ten-man Hartlepool tired in extra-time and Wednesday scored twice more to win a thrilling match and promotion to the Championship.

Disappointed Pool fans had been dreaming of their first season in the second flight of English football. But they still praised the team that came so close to glory and vowed to go one better next season.

SkySports presenter Jeff Stelling said he was already looking forward to next season.

"The players did us proud, particularly in the second half, and the fans were brilliant, good humoured, sang their hearts out, and helped to create a fantastic atmosphere. It is such a shame they are going away disappointed.

"It was hard to bear because the result relied on the referee's decisions, and the penalty and sending off were key for us - at ten against eleven, it was going to be a hard task.

"After the match, Martin Scott said Hartlepool are a club that are going places, and that is true."

Iain Wright, MP for Hartlepool, said: "I'm disappointed in one respect, but we have done nothing we should be ashamed of. The fans were fantastic today.

"Ultimately it was a great day out - the sun shone, the atmosphere was fantastic - it is just a shame about the result. But it is not bad considering just a few years ago we were struggling to stay in the Football League, and now we are already thinking about automatic promotion next season."