Pools feel sense of deja-vu as they fall at final hurdle in chase for championship

MILLENNIUM Stadium, May 2005. Hartlepool United are eight minutes away from glory and promotion to the Championship.

Then Chris Westwood conceded a penalty, was sent-off, Sheffield Wednesday levelled and went onto win, denying Pools a slice of success.

Victoria Park, May 2007. Hartlepool United are eight minutes away from glory and being crowned League Two champions.

Michael Mackay gloriously netted to seemingly put Pools 2-1 up and the blue and white ribbons were about to be put on the trophy.

But an offside flag stopped the manic celebrations, four minutes later Bristol Rovers won the game, denying Pools another slice of success.

And just like at the end of the game Cardiff, Pools' players slumped to the turf on the final whistle, denied at the death once again.

The scant piece of consolation was that Walsall's 90th minute leveller at Swindon meant Rovers' 86th minute winner was proved irrelevant on the day.

A draw wouldn't have been enough for Danny Wilson's shattered side - they would have had to win the game to win the league.

And while there was a stunned and somewhat subdued atmosphere around Victoria Park at the end, imagine the woe if Pools had drew the game, started the celebrations, only for news of Dean Keates' goal at the County Ground to come through.

But the real turning point came on 82 minutes. And on it, the outcome of Pools season hinged.

If Mackay's strike had counted, it made for a true life Roy of the Rovers story.

Signed from Consett earlier this year, the striker was making his Football League debut and he almost won Pools the league.

In the end, just like 12 months earlier when relegation was confirmed, there was somewhat of a hushed atmosphere around Victoria Park. Tears, not cheers.

"I'm not bitter about it at all - in fact I am very, very happy with the season,'' said Wilson. "It's disappointing when you are so close to something and it's taken away from you and you can't have it.

"It's been a great season overall and this cannot take away anything from what we have achieved overall. Who is to say that we aren't celebrating the title in 12 months' time?

"Maybe it wasn't the end of the season which cost us the title and it was the start to the season - it's certainly a valid argument.

"It was a poor start to the season and we had to paper over the cracks at times to get going. Something you get off to a good start and things pass you by and then all of a sudden the cracks appear again.

"But I thought overall we coped very well and we strengthened when we were able to and that made a big difference to our season.''

Wilson admitted: "It's disappointing to miss out on the title, but I'm sure everyone will be celebrating going up and promotion.

"We haven't got the championship, but going up with 88 points is no mean feat - it's a great return. Walsall ended on 89, so credit to them and it went down to the wire. Of course the players are disappointed to miss out, but they will get over it and soon realise what they have achieved.

"And it could help them next season because they don't want that feeling of what might have been again.

"But if you don't do the things you are good at and things don't go for you, then it's not going to work out.

"For all that good run we had - and it was excellent and something we can be proud of - the decision making in the final game bordered on costing us the game.

"But we will learn from it.''

The last 20 minutes of this game wasn't as organised and composed as anything Mackay had been part of in the Northern League.

It was manic stuff. The visitors, needing to win to make sure of the play-offs because of Stockport's comprehensive win at Darlington, threw three up front and never relented in the second half.

Joel Porter gave Pools a first-half lead, finishing neatly after collecting Antony Sweeney's lay-off.

Porter scoring past Steve Phillips in front of the watching Wilson at Victoria Park - it's a scenario which has happened before, when Pools met Bristol City in the 2003/4 play-offs.

And by the time it was all over, it was the same scenario with Pools ultimately reeling.

Rovers levelled when Willie Boland tripped Craig Disley in the area and Richard Walker scored the fourth penalty Dimi Konstantopoulos has faced in three games.

Two minutes before the equaliser, Swindon had gone in front against Walsall. A draw would, at that stage at least, have been enough for Pools.

Then David Foley tore into the area from the left side and smashed a shot off the underside of the bar and out of reach of the waiting Eifion Williams.

Sammy Igoe fizzed a cross across the face of goal, but out of reach of the advancing yellow shirts.

It was hotting up and the latter stages were utterly frantic.

Mackay's finish, curled around Steve Phillips and ending high into the net, belied his inexperience and background, only for his utter joy to be stopped.

Ali Gibb was in the right spot to head a goalbound Disley shot off the line and, from a Pools corner, Rovers broke away at pace and in numbers and Lambert's shot was stopped at Konstantopoulos' near post.

Then, four minutes remaining, and Pools' dream was over. Ryan Green got forward and crossed, Lambert found space and headed his side into the play-offs.

Pools had eight minutes - injury time included - to get one back. They couldn't muster one last push, tired both physically and mentally.

After going 24 games without defeat, Pools have ended the season with one point from nine.

Maybe this was a pressure game too far on the back of such a run. Missing three key players on the last day, perhaps it was the Rochdale defeat the previous week which effectively killed off their title chances.

But come this morning, on the back of yesterday's civic reception and bus tour around the town, with it comes the realisation that Pools are back in League One and have just enjoyed only their fourth promotion in the club's history.

After breaking so many records this season, it's been one to savour.