NINE minutes from history and a place in the Championship was as close as Hartlepool United may ever be.

Leading 2-1, with Leeds United, Leicester City and Southampton in sight, referee Phil Crossley awarded Sheffield Wednesday a penalty, sent off Chris Westwood in the process and Wednesday had a lifeline they grasped.

Two goals in extra-time flattered the Hillsborough club and Pool's red shirts lay flat on the Millennium Stadium turf at the final whistle, devastated at the outcome.

A goal down after a flat first-half show, substitutes Eifion Williams and Jon Daly turned the game in Pool's favour and the dream was within touching distance.

Touching distance was all that Westwood was when Steven MacLean theatrically tumbled in the area, but Crossley decided otherwise.

And while the referee gets a nice medal and a pat on the back fom the Football League, Pool are left to pick up the pieces.

It was the biggest day of their footballing lives, for the players and 16,500 fans of Pool, but memories, tears and dreams of what might have been are all they can take away from the memorable occasion.

The day that the town of Hartlepool headed en masse for Cardiff will never be forgotten.

Amid a busy, but very nervous, start, Thomas Butler and Glenn Whelan both needed treatment after a crunching block from the Pool winger.

Joel Porter, back in the side with Butler at the expense of Jon Daly and Eifion Williams respectively, ran at the defence, but his link-up with Adam Boyd didn't happen.

Wednesday's Whelan tried to lob Dimi Konstantopoulos, but only found the roof of the net, then the big Greek keeper made a low save to stop Chris Brunt after the winger burst into the box beyond Matty Robson.

It was certainly Wednesday who started the better, but Pool tried to respond with a swift attack that led to nothing when Micky Barron's ball was too long.

Pool were a bit too nervous for the liking of their fans and Robson fly-kicked a loose ball that led to another corner, which again was wasted.

Robson was again too easily beaten and the ball fell for Craig Rocastle 16 yards out who bobbled a shot wide.

Pool should have been looking at a swap out wide, with Ritchie Humphreys and Butler changing flanks to give the left-back some added protection.

Konstanopoulos and Westwood worked together to deny Lee Peacock at the near post.

But Butler soon was replaced by Williams, although Humphreys stayed right.

Wednesday weren't allowing Pool to settle, their gameplan was to close the opposition down as swiftly as possible to stop them getting into any sort of rhythm.

Porter had Pool's first effort on 35 minutes, chasing a long ball and lobbing over the bar from 20 yards.

Their best chance came when Sweeney set up Boyd from Gavin Strachan's corner and the striker, always on the edge of the game, ballooned over the bar with the inside of his left boot from a very inviting position.

Peacock then the did same after he was played in by a neat Whelan pass through the heart of the Pool defence.

But right on half-time, Pool went behind.

Rocastle burst forward on the left to collect Peacock's flick and rolled across the six-yard box for McGovern to get there ahead of Robson and push the ball past Konstantopoulos.

But the goal Pool so desperately craved came seconds after the restart.

Lee Bullen inadvertently headed on Humphreys' long throw and Williams lashed the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

It was the biggest moment in the club's history and how it was celebrated. The game was well on truly on.

Pool almost found a quick second and only a lunging tackle from Richard Wood stopped Boyd inside the penalty area.

Robson then cut past McGovern and lashed a 30-yard shot high and wide.

Sweeney had to get to grips with the marauding Rocastle in the middle of the park and the Wednesday man showed what a threat he could be when he burst ahead to feed McGovern for a chance that ultimately went begging.

Boyd, heavily marked in the first half, was starting to enjoy more freedom and his twisting run set up Sweeney for a first-time shot pushed wide from the edge of the area.

Barron was replaced by Darren Craddock, as the skipper hobbled off and McGovern thumped a first-timer into the side netting.

With Humphreys shifted to the left and Williams on the right, Pool had a much better balance and the difference was obvious.

Pool were forced into their third substitution on 69 minutes, as Porter signalled to the bench that his game was over and on came Jon Daly.

After 106 seconds on the pitch he had made the biggest of impacts.

Strachan's free-kick found the big striker six yards out and he thumped a header beyond David Lucas.

Paul Sturrock threw on three substitutes, hoping they could have as big an impact as Pool's.

McGovern should have done his bit to level, but took the wrong option after finding space past Robson.

Then Pool were dealt the harshest of double hands.

Substitute MacLean got goal side of Westwood and lost his footing. Referee Phil Crossley ruled it was a professional foul and sent off the furious centre-half.

The slippery-footed MacLean went straight with the penalty and, despite Konstantopoulos getting something on it, it found the net.

Craddock went to centre-half with Williams moving to right back.

Wednesday were in the ascendency again and McGovern thumped a shot inches over from distance, but three minutes into extra-time, Pool were behind.

Nelson flicked the ball over MacLean, but was robbed by Whelan and he charged on to thump the ball beyond Konstantopoulos.

Pool's reaction as the red shirts slumped to the floor said everything. Skipper Humphreys did everything he could to lift his crest-fallen charges.

He volleyed at goal from 30 yards, but straight at David Lucas.

Sweeney looked to be through on goal, but a well-timed tackle by Bullen inside the area stopped him.

One well-timed tackle, one badly-timed decision - that proved the difference.

In injury time, Talbot beat Craddock to a high ball, ran away and rounded Konstantopoulos to finish off Pool's dream.