POOLS LEFT OUT FOR THE COUNT Late O’Brien heroics keep Newport in League

MARK O’BRIEN was so overcome with emotion he forgot that he scored the last-gasp goal which saved Newport County from dropping out of the Football League.

The Exiles, who were 11 points adrift of safety in March, were a minute away from relegation when defender O’Brien lashed in to seal a 2-1 win at home to Notts County.

That was the news Hartlepool had been dreading to hear.

Pools were almost safe after two late goals from Devante Rodney saw them come back from behind to beat Doncaster 2-1.

But O’Brien’s 89thminute volley changed all of that and sparked crazy scenes in south Wales (Newport’s players celebrating survival, above). The Irishman said: “I can’t put into words the feeling when I scored the goal – at one stage I forgot I had scored it as everyone was going crazy.

“I had been screaming to the manager asking if I could go up front. It ended up dropping to me and I just thought, ‘I have to blast this as hard as I can’ – and thankfully it went in.

“Knowing what was at stake it was close to taking me to tears.”

Doncaster would have lifted the League Two title had they won at Hartlepool (a distraught Scott Harrison reacts to Pools’ relegation, below), who drop out of the League for the first time in 96 years.

But it was Portsmouth who ended up as champs after second-placed Plymouth were held to a 1-1 draw at Grimsby.

Pompey thrashed Cheltenham 6-1 at Fratton Park and pipped Argyle to the title on goal difference. Defender Gareth Evans, who converted a penalty, said: “Doncaster have been there for ages, but have blown up in recent weeks and to snatch the title like we have is probably the best way to do it.

“We heard the fans cheering and knew that something was going our way. It was obvious what was happening elsewhere.”

Carlisle and Blackpool both won to join Luton and Exeter in the play-offs.

Plymouth will celebrate with an open-topped bus parade round the city today despite missing out on the title.

More than 1,800 Pilgrims fans travelled to Grimsby, and midfielder Graham Carey said: “It hurts a little bit, but 10 seconds after the final whistle the supporters were singing.

“That’s what it means to the club and to the city of Plymouth.”