UPBEAT Hartlepool United boss Chris Turner is relishing the end of season run in. Saturday's win at Halifax leaves Pool trailing the play-offs by three points and with two games to go, Turner is bracing himself for a thrilling end to the season.

Pool entertain Swansea on Saturday knowing anything less than three points will leave their hopes dashed.

And Turner said:"I think if it goes to the last game of the season we have had a fine season and if we don't make it we know why we didn't do it.

"We are keeping the season interesting for the fans.

"It would be nice to get into the play-offs on the last game of the season again, we will just have to wait and see.'' Defeat at home to Macclesfield a fortnight ago seemed to kill off Pool's hopes, but wins over Oxford, Plymouth and Halifax have rekindled Pool's hopes.

Turner added:"We said we would try and win five out of five - we have won three and we've got one home game and one away game to come.

"We will approach them with the same work ethic and try and dig out two more wins."

With Halifax relegated last week after a big defeat at Darlington, Turner was wary of a backlash at The Shay - it never materialised, but the Pool boss said:"It was a difficult game to go and play as there was not much atmosphere, only from our fans. This could have been a banana skin.

"We needed an early goal to stem any early pressure that Halifax might throw at us and what a goal it was. I "I was stood right behind him and I watched him hit it in to the top corner - it was unstoppable shot.

"We needed a second goal so we could control the last few minutes and take our time. Towards the end of the game we had a few more chances. '' Scunthorpe go to Darlington on Saturday and entertain York on the last day of the season; Shrewsbury are at Southend on Saturday and finally take on Luton at Gay Meadow.

Luton moved to the top of the table after a 4-0 thrashing of Hull at Boothferry Park.

Steve Howard hit a hat-trick for the Hatters as they edged ahead of Plymouth on goal difference after their 12th successive win.

Howard struck in the 23rd, 79th and 89th minutes with Dean Crowe (38) crowning a miserable day for new Tigers boss Jan Molby.

Cheltenham's hopes of securing the third automatic promotion berth were hit hard when they went down 1-0 at Macclesfield, Matthew Tipton volleying the only goal of the game in the 83rd minute.

Mansfield moved to within a single point of the Robins with a 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers, their first win in six games.

Debutant Scott Sellars set up goals for Adam Murray (57) and Andy White (79).

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