Bristol Rovers 4 Hartlepool 1

May 3 2009 Sunday Sun

POOLS survived relegation from League One on a nervous final day of the season . . . but only just.

Thumped 4-1 at Bristol Rovers, Chris Turner’s side had to rely on other results to see them safe.

Leeds United’s 3-0 win over Northampton kept Pools up and sent the Cobblers down.

Chris Turner’s side quickly fell two goals behind after making a horrible start to the game.

The shell-shocked Pools chief cut a stunned figure afterwards and this game will have been the final outing in a Hartlepool shirt for a number of the players.

Turner said: “Five minutes into the first half, five minutes into the second and we have conceded four goals.

“We have just done enough to stay in the division . . . that was the obvious target.

“I always felt this season would go down to the wire and would be difficult.

“Last season two teams were relegated with points deductions, this season we have struggled all along and just stayed up.”

He added: “It’s been a disappointing season, but the goal has been achieved. It’s been a trying time for all.

“The season is consigned to history, it’s gone now. The table doesn’t lie . . . we concede too many goals.”

Pools have shipped a shocking 79 in League One this season. The first yesterday came after only two minutes and 40 seconds.

Goalkeeper Jan Budtz pushed a low shot into the path of striker Jo Kuffour, who netted from close range.

It got even worse 90 seconds later.

Pools’ defence opened up again and allowed Darryl Duffy the space and time he needed to roll a low shot across Budtz into the far corner of the net.

With Carlisle taking an early lead at home to Millwall, there was a fear the Cumbrians could overturn the six-goal deficit they trailed Hartlepool by before kick-off.

But Pools then started to enjoy their best spell of the game as they won a greater share of the ball.

Andy Monkhouse headed wide and then Daniel Nardeillo clawed one back.

The on-loan striker rattled a shot against the underside of the crossbar and then saw his second shot blocked by keeper Steve Phillips before he netted with his third attempt.

But that was as close as Pools got, as they gifted Rovers two more goals within minutes of the second half starting.

First, Rickie Lambert was allowed to take a simple pass from Duffy and fire in.

Within a minute, defender Aaron Lescott struck from a similar position as Pools’ season ended on a downbeat note.