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MK Dons 2 - 1 Hartlepool United

Pool give up the ghost after last-gasp sickener

THE forlorn figures on the turf said everything.

The black shirts slumped to the ground at 4.54pm yesterday because, after losing at Milton Keynes Dons, League Two beckons for Hartlepool United.

With three games to go, it's still mathematically possible for Pool, four points from safety with nine to play for, to survive.

The way they looked at the National Hockey Stadium they know their fate is as good as sealed as they sit in second-bottom spot.

Conceding a last-minute goal could be one blow too many.

Paul Stephenson tried to lift his devastated players when they finally found the will to head to the dressing rooms.

There were tears from some, despair for all.

The last two seasons have both ended in ashen faces - agonising play-off defeats to Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday.

At least those ended in some sort of glory.

It's a different story this time around.

"It's deeply disappointing because we worked our socks off in the second half,'' said Stephenson.

"You cannot start games and play like we did in the first half, but they knew they hadn't performed.

"I asked them to search their souls deeply about what they were made of and they came up with the answers.

"Second half, we were excellent - players wanted possession and we created chances.

"But when things go against you, like the winning goal, you know it's not your time.

"We've nine points to play for and I will be in for training on Thursday with my head up. We end the season with a home game - we have to make sure we have a fighting chance.''

In the first-half yesterday they had no chance, no shape and no passion.

But Darrell Clarke's half-time arrival meant Pool had started passing the ball into feet and started to create chance after chance.

Yet again, though, they could only turn one of them into a goal.

And, yet again, they paid the price in defeat No 18 for a season which started with more optimism than any other.

With so much at stake Stephenson made four changes after Saturday's defeat to Bristol City.

Out went Thomas Butler, Adam Boyd, Lee Bullock and Hugh Robertson, in came Mark Tinkler, Matty Robson, Steven Istead and Michael Proctor.

At the blustery arena, the home side had already tried to catch Pool out with their liking for quick free-kicks before a swiftly-taken dead-ball proved decisive.

Gary Smith, a former Middlesbrough trainee, tapped the ball through to Aaron Wilbraham and he instinctively poked it low in at the near post past Konstantopoulos.

It was the sole spark of creativity in a first half with as much bluster as the wind which swirled around the so-called stadium.

Pool had the elements behind them, but all they did with it was pump long and high balls which either sailed out of play or were pumped away by the defence.

Their single chance of sorts came when Nelson headed Ritchie Humphreys' corner on and Eifion Williams acrobatically found the side netting.

It was nowhere near the standard required to get Pool out of the double situation they found themselves - a goal behind and entrenched in the bottom four.

Robson pinged a low shot from distance that keeper Matt Baker bundled out for a corner.

From the dead-ball, Istead was hauled down in the area but, despite big appeals for a spot kick, referee Steve Tanner played on.

In possession, the home side didn't look like a team who have spent every day of this year bottom of League One as they moved the ball around and interchanged play quickly.

But this wasn't the first time Pool had made a poor team look decent.

Stephen Turnbull was replaced by Clarke at the break and it made a big difference.

Robson charged into the area as Pool's display - and season - finally had some life to it.

His cross, however, fell in between Proctor and Williams.

Play changed quickly to the other end and Smith's sidefooted finish from ten yards was kept out by Konstantopoulos' foot.

The save proved crucial as Pool soon levelled.

Williams charged down keeper Baker as he went to the edge of his area to collect a bouncing ball. The keeper went to ground, the ball spilled loose to Proctor and he curled into the empty net from distance.

The home side were furious with the non-decision from the referee, but Pool need every bit of luck which comes their way.

After an inept 45 minutes, Pool were now in the ascendancy.

They could easily have been in front on 56 minutes.

Istead and Williams broke from deep inside their own area, interchanged passes and only a crucial saving interception from Dean Lewington stopped Williams enjoying a simple tap-in.

Humphreys' run was halted and from the free-kick he curled it towards the far post, with the slightest of touches from Leon Crooks nudging the cross away from Clarke.

Tinkler's firm goalbound header from the corner was kept out by Baker.

And Pool continued to take control.

Proctor went beyond Lewington and fired at goal, but Baker's touch put it wide.

If the game had nothing in the first half, it had everything in the second.

Clive Platt got beyond Nelson and lifted his shot over Konstantopoulos.

With Izale McLeod racing in to turn home, a brilliant goalline clearance from Darren Williams kept Pool's point intact.

Then twice in as many minutes Pool got crosses into the near post, but on both occasions there was no-one gambling in front of the keeper.

After an afternoon of graft, Tinkler pulled up after a typically firm tackle and Chris Llewellyn replaced him in midfield.

Pool continued to press and continued to probe for openings.

But the home side broke away and Scott Taylor, in slow motion, knocked in a killer goal off the far post.

Pool's hopes were over.

Beaten by a Mickey Mouse goal at a Mickey Mouse club in a season in which they have had no fun.