GOING into the last day of the season with a play-off place up for grabs, while keeping an eye on other results - Hartlepool United have been there before.

They went to Hull in May 2000, needing a win and relying on other results to go in their favour. Pool won in style, Cheltenham and Torquay both lost, and a place in the top seven was assured.

This year, it's even simpler. Pool have to avoid defeat at Swindon on Saturday to make sure of a place in the top six.

A win or a draw is enough for both sides, a defeat and the loser will be more concerned with how Port Vale are getting on at Rushden.

Only The Valiants can overtake Pool or Swindon after both lost on Saturday. Neale Cooper's side were beaten 3-1 by champions Plymouth, The Robins lost at second-placed QPR.

Places in the top six for both teams could have been secured with defeats, but Vale's late winner over Tranmere means the race goes right to the wire.

Vale go to Rushden on the final day. Both sides need to win for different reasons - Vale to have a play-off chance, Diamonds to stay in the division.

Can Rushden win and do Pool a favour? On last week's display and their recent run - just three wins in 2004 - probably not.

Perhaps Saturday's late drama gives Vale a little bit of an edge because there was a distinct flat, muted feeling around Victoria Park come 5pm.

Losing at home is no cause for celebration, but Pool would have made the most of securing a play-off place. Finding out that Vale had scored so late on put a right dampner on things.

But no-one expected or predicted a play-off place for Pool four years ago, just like everyone had Pool written off as relegation certainties at the start of this season.

Instead, it's been the most successful season in the club's history.

"We need a point from the last two games to get a play-off spot - at the start of the season if someone said we would need a point from the last two games to stay up, I would have taken it,'' mused one punter before the game.

Chances are, he would have taken a similar scenario with one game to go.

The only thing certain about next week is that, if Pool and Swindon both make the play-offs, they won't meet in the semi-final.

Fourth meet fifth, third meet sixth and the sides cannot finish in positions where they would meet.

Cooper said: "It's a blow to find out Port Vale scored late on, but there's no point in going to Swindon and sitting back - we will give it a go.

"They have to go to Rushden and both teams need to win.

"Whatever happens next week, no-one can complain about the season and we are still in the driving seat.

"It's not a case of having to lift them for the game, these boys are strong characters.

"We have come a long way since we played Plymouth earlier in the season.

"We played some good football, but you get punished against the best teams in the division - Plymouth and QPR have both done the same to us.

"We went in front and then it's vital to get through the next few minutes. Instead they get straight back at 1-1.

"They had two big, strong centre-backs, but when we got the ball down we played good stuff.''

Plymouth ran out to a guard of honour formed by the Pool players and a standing ovation from the 7,437 crowd, an attendance just 11 down on the gate at the game with Sheffield Wednesday last October, which was Pool's biggest home gate since September 1967.

Just 11 minutes in and Adam Boyd's spectacular run of goals continued. Eifion Williams, who played on the right wing, crossed and Boyd got above man-marker Graham Coughlan to loop a header home.

Coughlan shadowed Boyd everywhere he went all afternoon and each time the Pool ace had the ball, a pack of green shirts swarmed the in-form striker. Plymouth had obviously done their homework.

Only 40 seconds later and Argyle were level. Pool failed to clear the ball decisively - more of that later - and Lee Hodges looped a shot into the net from 20 yards.

Boyd had a chance to put Pool back in front, but, from another Williams cross, headed over and across the goal.

Pool have yet to have a player red carded in league football this season, Chris Westwood the only dismissal in the Carling Cup defeat to West Brom.

And Westwood must have feared the worst when he brought down Nathan Lowndes as the striker got clear. Referee Tony Leake only booked the defender.

Westwood, however, was blamed for Plymouth's second goal. A loose Neil Danns ball was fly-kicked by Westwood straight at Lowndes and he was clear. Jim Provett stepped back to guard his goal and the striker neatly finished.

Cooper said: "It was a short pass from Danns and, whether Westy goes through the ball and takes the man as well, he has to do it.

"He has to do better than he did on Saturday and he knows it.''

Mark Tinkler was unlucky to score an own goal three minutes into the second-half. A right-sided corner evaded everyone, hit Tinkler's shin and bounced over the line.

Boyd, Williams and Boyd again pushed headers wide and now it all boils down to a nail biter at the County Ground.

Result: Hartlepool 1 Plymouth Argyle 3.

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