Last-gasp Newport winner sends Hartlepool down

Hartlepool discovered the most agonising way possible to be relegated from the Football League as Mark O’Brien’s goal a minute from time secured Newport’s safety on a dramatic final day in League Two.

Egged on by their most famous fan Jeff Stelling in the SkySports studio, Hartlepool thought they were safe after teenager Devante Rodney scored twice as they they came from behind against title-chasing Doncaster Rovers.

But their 2-1 win at Victoria Park counted for nothing when O’Brien snatched a 2-1 victory over Notts County to ensure that Newport, who were 11 points adrift of safety on March 4, completed their great escape.

On a see-saw evening, Doncaster went ahead through Andy Williams, and moments later Newport took the lead in their match, through a Mickey Demetriou penalty.

Jorge Grant levelled for County to give Hartlepool hope, before Rodney, an 18-year-old yet to start a senior match, let alone score a goal, appeared to have written his name in Hartlepool history with a second-half double.

But with 60 seconds remaining, O’Brien chested the ball down and volleyed a winner which saved the Welsh side and ended Hartlepool’s 96-year stay in the League. Doncaster’s defeat

meant they missed out on the title, which went to Portsmouth after their thumping 6-1 victory over Cheltenham.

An own-goal by Dan O’Shaughnessy, two from Kal Naismith and further strikes from Kyle Bennett, Jamal Lowe and Gareth Evans made it a day of celebration at Fratton Park.

Plymouth had started the day on top, but they fell behind to a Shaun Pearson goal after 37 seconds at Grimsby and could only muster Jimmy Spencer’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

There were seven teams in with a shout of the last two play-off spots, but in the end it was as you were, as Carlisle and Blackpool took their chance.

Carlisle made hard work of things, however, as they twice trailed Exeter and needed two Danny Grainger penalties and Jamie Proctor’s winner to snatch a 3-2 victory.

The two teams will now meet in the play-offs, while Blackpool, 3-1 winners against already relegated Leyton Orient, will face Luton. Colchester finished eighth after beating Yeovil 2-0, Wycombe beat fellow hopefuls Cambridge 1-0, Mansfield drew 2-2 at Crawley and Stevenage lost 3-0 to Accrington.

Away from the drama, Luton limbered up for the play-offs with a 3-1 win over Morecambe, and Crewe thumped Barnet 4-1.