HARTLEPOOL United's hopes of winning League Two are over - their hopes ended just four minutes from glory.

Pools needed to better Walsall's result at Swindon to be crowned champions.

And, with four minutes of their final game remaining and Walsall losing, Pools were tied at 1-1 and in top spot.

But Ryan Green crossed from the left and Rickie Lambert headed in from close range to break Pools' hearts and stun Victoria Park.

By the time the players had trudged off the pitch, a Walsall goal in the 90th minute at Swindon would have rendered a Pools draw useless.

Joel Porter had given Pools the lead, cooly finishing when played in by Tony Sweeney But Rovers levelled from the spot in the second-half and, with both sides going flat out for a winner, it was the visitors who got it.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Konstantopoulos, D Williams, Clark, Liddle, Humphreys, Brown, Boland, Sweeney, Foley, E Williams, Porter.

Subs: Barron, Tinkler, Bullock, Gibb, Mackay.

BRISTOL ROVERS: Phillips, R Green, Anthony, Elliott, Jacobsen, Haldane, Disley, Campbell, Carruthers, Lambert, Walker.

Subs: M Green, Lines, Rigg, Igoe, Parrinello.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Preston)