HAVING agonisingly missed out on a historic trip to Wembley, Hartlepool United manager Graeme Lee is now eyeing up a charge for the League Two play-offs with twelve league games left in the season.

Pools took League One side Rotherham United beyond 90 minutes in last night’s Papa John’s Trophy semi final where they drew 2-2. Joe Grey and Luke Molyneux put them in front twice during the game while striker Michael Smith equalised twice in the second half. It finished 5-4 to the Millers in a penalty shootout.

A bumper crowd watched the game at the Suit Direct Stadium with over 7,500 fans through the turnstiles on the night.

Lee said: “That atmosphere was immense. I think one of their players, Dan Barlaser, got injured during the first half and the noise… god. You just turned around and you appreciated it from every single stand.

“It was immense. They’ve been immense all season, the noise they’ve been bringing. With it being packed out tonight, you’re just gutted you couldn’t give them that little trip to Wembley we all wanted.”

The atmosphere, the occasion and the sense of what could have been has left the manager wanting more. Lee would have been the first manager to take them to Wembley had they won last night but he’s not ending his hopes there.

They immediately switch their attentions to the league this weekend where Leyton Orient will make the visit to the Suit Direct Stadium. As things stand, they currently sit nine points off the top seven.

When asked if the game was a flavour of where he wants to take the team, Lee added: “You never know. We might have another March like we had in February. We’ll be trying and we will see where we end up. Fans were amazing like they have been all season and long may that continue.

“The night and what it was, it was a massive game.

“I keep saying that the league games and the performances have been massive. They are the main thing but to get so close to Wembley, it would have been so much. Especially on the back of the points tally that we’ve got to.

“It could have been one of those special nights. It was a special night in terms of the fans and the atmosphere and what we offered on the pitch against Rotherham but it wasn’t to be. I’ll enjoy the next league win more.”

Pools have been no strangers to cup upsets this season. That’s now eight teams from the division above that they haven’t lost to this season.

Their league form has taken big strides in recent weeks having lost just once in their last ten games in League Two. However, that performance against the Millers has given them a new benchmark to hit.

Lee added: “The performances have been good as of late and we’re picking up points which is what we want. We’ve gone up against many League One teams and Championship teams throughout this cup runs and we’ve matched them and more.

“We’ve got to keep doing it. We’ve got to keep that consistency and performances. We can’t now dwell on tonight because we didn’t get through. We’ve got to take what we’ve just had in the atmosphere and everything from tonight and make it a positive one for Saturday.

“You want this week in week out. You want more of this and you want the opportunity to be fighting. I want to be fighting for something at the end of this season.

“First and foremost, we need to make sure that we get the right points to stay in this league and then it’s where we end up. I don’t want to fizzle the season off. I want to keep pushing and see where we end up.”

Pools will have Joe White and Jake Hull available for this weekend’s game against Orient after the pair were cup tied. However, Bryn Morris will continue to be assessed for his knee injury.