MAYBE Ritchie Humphreys' reaction said it all: "Hartlepool in the play-offs for Division One - who would have thought it, eh?''

Written off by the experts, knocked down by the bookies and scoffed at by rivals, remember Hartlepool United were in for a long campaign of struggle in Division Two.

Instead, it's been the most successful season in the most successful period in the club's near 100-year existence.

And where will it end? It may yet be Division One, with Leeds, West Ham, Ipswich and all.

When Pool reached the play-offs trying to escape from Division Three in 2000, it was a novelty. Two play-offs and a promotion later, it's serious stuff as they prepare to meet Bristol City with a place in the Millennium Stadium final at stake.

Boss Neale Cooper is making a name for himself in English football. With a mentor of the highest order in fellow Scot Sir Alex Ferguson, Cooper's first season south of the border has surpassed all expectations.

Even Sir Alex didn't do as well in his first season in England.

Cooper won honours galore as a tough midfielder with Aberdeen under Ferguson's watchful eye in the 80's and admitted: "This achievement is up there with some of the major things I have done in football.

"At the start of the season I arrived here and didn't know a soul. I walked in the door and everyone said we were favourites to go straight back down, instead the players have done so much for me and Martin Scott.

"The boys have shown great character and spirit all season and they did it again. I said to them before the game that whatever happened on Saturday, with us or with Port Vale, there would be no pressure on them at all.

"I knew from day one that the players were a great bunch of boys and they have proved it. Some players have gone and left the club, but players have come in and developed things.

"There's the likes of Micky Barron, Chris Westwood and Ritchie who have been here a few years and are part of the club and there is not one person here who is a bad person. We have that togetherness about the place and that shows on the pitch as well.

"We went one-down on Saturday, but came back and we never know when we are beaten. There was no panic at any time and I wasn't worried because I knew when we get the ball down and play it, we are a good team.''

He added: "I reminded the players in the meeting at the hotel before the game that people had us relegated before the season had started. No-one expected us to make the play-offs, did they?

"There has never, ever, been any pressure on the boys. They all enjoy training and playing. They can see how well me and Martin get on and that reflects across to them all.''

That enjoyment, spirit and camaraderie are on what the success over the last five years has been built. A happy club has proved a successful club; something others might like to note.

They fell one down to a soft goal on Saturday, a short corner saw Sammy Igoe float a curling cross over all in the penalty area and it bounced into the far corner of the net. Minutes later and news came through of Port Vale's advantage over Rushden. As expected, a favour from Billy Turley and his Rushden side was asking a bit too much.

But their best spell of pressure came as half-time approached and the nervous home crowd didn't like it one bit.

So Pool took advantage and then the initiative after the break. Hugh Robertson chipped a quick free-kick towards the top corner and keeper Rhys Evans clawed it away.

Chris Westwood headed across goal and Mark Tinkler nodded over, Tinkler's volley was deflected wide and Westwood saw a header pushed off the line.

But Adam Boyd wasn't going to be denied. Robertson crossed and Boyd headed in again from eight yards out.

Cooper's strikers have scored goals in batches at the right times all season. Paul Robinson started the season with a bang, Eifion Williams' purple patch came at the halfway mark and Boyd is ending it in style.

At 1-1 - a draw at 8-5 with the bookies was the bet of the season according to one Saturday pundit - the outcome suited both.

Whatever Port Vale were doing was now irrelevant. Pool tried to kill the game off, Swindon didn't seem to know how to.

Referee Mick Fletcher did though and calling time quickly was about the only decision he made all day which both sides could understand.

He signalled a minute of added time, there should have been more after a hefty delay after a clash of heads. After about two seconds he called in his assistants to race off the pitch and blew for time.

Pool will hope that they might get a better class of official in Division One.

Result: Swindon Town 1 Hartlepool United 1.

Read more about Hartlepool here.