Saturday April 27th 2002

Third Division Play Off Semi-Final, first leg

HARTLEPOOL UNITED v CHELTENHAM TOWN

Hartlepool United  1 (E. Williams 45)

.A. Williams, Robinson,  (sub; Stephenson 86 min), Barron, Lee, Westwood, E. Williams, Boyd, Smith, Clarke, Humphreys, Watson (sub: Henderson 75 min).

Booked: Lee

Cheltenham Town  1  (Grayson 89)

Book, Duff, Victory, Yates, Grayson, Griffin, Walker, Devaney (sub: Williams 79 min), Alsop, Lee, Finnigan.

Booked: Devaney

Half-time: 1-0

Attendance: 7,135

Hartlepool were hoping that it would be third time lucky for them having previously been beaten in the play-off semis in each of the previous two seasons. However their opponents Cheltenham had beaten them twice in the League and had only missed out on an automatic promotion place in their final league match. Hartlepool made a sound start but despite continued pressure on the Cheltenham goal they had to wait until first-half stoppage time to take a deserved lead.  Eifion Williams continued his rich goalscoring form with a headed goal from a Michael Barron cross.

Cheltenham came close to equalising early in the second half when Jamie Victory hit the bar from only six yards out but they were to enjoy much greater possession in the second period. They left it late to equalise though when in the 89th minute a Martyn Lee pass found Neil Grayson who hit the ball past advancing Hartlepool 'keeper Anthony Williams.