Bristol City 2 - 1 Hartlepool United

Bristol City 2-1 Hartlepool

Updated: May 19, 2004, 5:11 PM ET

A late strike from Bristol City striker Christian Roberts clinched a 2-1 victory over Hartlepool - 3-2 on aggregate - to book their place in the Division Two play-off final.

City, beaten by Cardiff at the semi-final stage last year, drew 1-1 at Victoria Park on Saturday before going behind to Antony Sweeney's 63rd-minute header in the return.

• Wilson warns players to stay calm

But a gutsy comeback by the Robins saw substitute Marc Goodfellow, on as a 73rd-minute replacement for Brian Tinnion, nod home a right-wing cross from Roberts in the 88th minute to seemingly force extra-time.

Then, in the third minute of injury time, Roberts advanced into the Hartlepool box to slot the ball past goalkeeper Jim Provett.

Both sides looked tense at the start before Tinnion lifted the ball into the Hartlepool penalty area for Lee Peacock, but the Robins striker produced a weak header into Provett's arms.

Pools bared their teeth shortly after the quarter-hour but Sweeney, who had advanced from midfield, directed Hugh Robertson's left-wing cross wide.

Tinnion shot narrowly wide before Peacock was forced to hobble out of the action to be replaced by Scott Murray shortly after the half-hour.

Then, with five minutes to the interval and against the run of play, Adam Boyd shrugged off the attentions of the Robins rearguard and beat goalkeeper Steve Phillips with a low left-foot shot which hit the foot of the post and rebounded clear.

Into the second half and City emerged with all guns blazing but the visitors' resolute defending meant City were repeatedly denied, most frustratingly after Tony Rougier's acrobatics set free Murray only for the substitute to fluff his attempted cross into the path of Roberts.

City were playing all the football but almost fell victim to an own goal on the hour when Tony Butler's wayward backpass went just past the post.

There was another fright for the hosts soon afterwards when Michael Nelson's volley was helped on its way by Joel Porter but Phillips was down quickly to his right.

Phillips was left helpless just moments later, though, as Pools opened the scoring in the 63rd minute. Eifion Williams' accurate cross was met by Sweeney, who stooped low to head home.

However, the visitors' celebrations were to prove short-lived as City were finally rewarded with extra-time looming.

Roberts floated over a centre from the right and Goodfellow rose unmarked to angle an unstoppable header past Provett.

Then, with most resigned to another 30 minutes, Roberts provided his unexpected grandstand finish.

Wilson warns players to stay calm

Victorious Bristol City manager Danny Wilson has warned the Robins players and fans to keep their feet on the ground following an exhilarating Division Two semi-final play-off victory over Hartlepool at Ashton Gate.

Wilson said: 'At this stage, I don't think it matters who we get in the final because whoever we play will take some beating after having got there on merit.

'It'll take a while for us to come down from beating Hartlepool but we've got a good while to prepare for the final and whoever we play at Cardiff you can be sure we'll respect them.

'I suppose it'd be great for the area if we ended up having a local derby with Swindon and it'd be great for both sets of fans but irrespective of that, whoever our opponents end up being, I'm sure they will have deserved to get there.

'But getting this far certainly doesn't make up for going out last year because to my mind we haven't achieved anything yet.

'We're still 90 minutes away from the holy grail of First Division football.'

Meanwhile, defeated Pools boss Neale Cooper was left to reflect on the victory which got away and cited the enforced substitutions of injured centre-back pairing Michael Barron and Chris Westwood as a significant factor in the visitors' downfall.

The Victoria Park chief said: 'We lost two players in Westwood and Barron who had been immense for us and the reshuffle changed things around for us and also gave the opposition a lift.

'The vital factor was us losing those two players because it meant we had to change the whole shape of the team.

'There was a feeling that at 1-0 up with 80-odd minutes gone it looked like being our night but we all know a game's never over until the final whistle and their boys took their goals well at the end.

'But I'm a very proud man, very proud of my players and very proud of the fans who have backed us this season.

'If I were writing a school report for the season, I'd give the players a very good because anyone can see we try to play the game in the right way.'