HARTLEPOOL United were last night three minutes from a play-off final and a possible place in Division One.

But instead of Sunderland and Leeds United visiting Victoria Park next season, it's going to be Doncaster and Wimbledon in Division Two.

It was all set to be the greatest night in the greatest season in the club's history. Instead, it was all cruelly snatched away as the game drew to a devastating and agonising close.

Leading through Antony Sweeney's goal, Pool conceded twice in the last few minutes as both Marc Goodfellow and then Christian Roberts broke Pool hearts.

Pool, everyone's favourites for a swift return to Division Three after last season's promotion, have confounded the critics to finish sixth.

They were so, so close to going one step further.

It was a victory the home side scarcely deserved and the town, and the 1,200 fans who went to Ashton Gate last night, can be so proud of Hartlepool's achievements when the pain of last night finally wears off.

It might take some time to disappear, such was the devasting blow dealt in the dying minutes of the game.

This is Pool's fourth play-off defeat in five years. They went so close to getting out of Division Three when they lost in sudden-death penalties at Cheltenham in 2002.

And last night they were within touching distance of a final spot, despite having a defence missing two of its stalwarts, and to have it snatched away in this manner was agony.

But, just as at Darlington in 2000 and Whaddon Road two years later, the away fans had to suffer as the home crowd celebrated wildly.

Those in blue and white looked on knowing it should have been them.

Anyone who makes Pool favourites for the drop next season should be taken away by the men in white coats after such a memorable campaign.

Ten minutes in and Pool had the ball in the danger zone for the first time, but Eifion Williams stretched to control and couldn't connect. Taking it first time might have brought a reward.

The expected early onslaught from the home side failed to materialise and the only scare came as Peacock squared the ball across the six-yard box, aiming for Roberts, but Micky Nelson intercepted.

Then Sweeney met a Ritchie Humphreys cross and thumped a header agonisingly wide from eight yards - the best opening of the game's infancy.

Pool went out aiming to stifle the home crowd and after 30 minutes, the plan was working to perfection.

The home crowd were making nothing like the noise generated at Victoria Park for last Saturday's first-leg.

There was a second lift for Pool when £600,000 dangerman Lee Peacock hobbled off after running into Nelson and turning an ankle.

Brian Tinnion, scorer of a cracking goal to win the league encounter at Victoria Park in January, tried his luck from 25 yards and blasted wide.

Adam Boyd, in the form of his life, made the chance of the half to give Pool a crucial advantage and he created it from nothing.

Collecting a Porter flick midway in City's half, he skipped through three defenders and curled a low shot which beat keeper Phillips and hit the inside of the post. Following up, Porter smashed the loose ball behind.

It wasn't long before Pool's hearts were in their mouths at the other end. Chris Westwood seemed to have cleared, but Roberts collected and sent a low shot wide of the far post.

The visitors went in at the break having proved more than a match for the Robins.

It was so disappointing for the home side they resorted to having Tony Robinson, of Blackadder fame, on the pitch at the break. His cunning plan was to try to lift the tepid home crowd.

The second half started in lively fashion for the home side and Pool needed to take the sting out of the game again.

And they almost sneaked a goal when Hill's back-pass evaded keeper Phillips and rolled wide of the far post.

Nelson then volleyed forward and Porter's flick header was held by Phillips.

The goal came a minute later. Williams crossed from the right and the on-rushing Sweeney nodded Pool in front.

Westwood limped off and Mark Tinkler moved back into defence as Neil Danns came on. Then Pool's other stalwart of the back line, Micky Barron, took a cross full in the face. He was out cold and stretchered off while being given oxygen.

On came Darrell Clarke and Williams, the man who could be playing for Wales as a striker next week, went to right back.

Roberts turned in the box and fluffed a shot across goal and wide, to Pool's relief.

A goal up and with the home crowd baying for home blood, Pool had 15 minutes, makeshift defence and all, to hold on.

City then went for broke, off went defender Butler, on came striker Leroy Lita, and with eight minutes left Rougier shot wide.

Nelson, a rock at the back all season and again last night, then dived to head away from Rougier inside the six-yard box.

From the corner, Porter broke away and should have done far better than blaze his shot into the stand.

But with three minutes to go, Murray crossed from the right and Goodfellow headed across Provett into the far corner of the net.

And at the start of six minutes of injury time, Roberts surged forward, beat Williams and fired the ball low into the net.

It was the most devastating goal of Pool's season.

Result: Bristol City 2 Hartlepool United 1. (Bristol win 3-2 on aggregate).

Read more about Hartlepool here.