DESPITE arresting their dreadful late-season home form, the alarm bells sounded for Cherries as soon as the Sweeney had arrived.

Although this draw ended a disastrous sequence of five successive home defeats, it was scant consolation for the Dean Court faithful and Sean O'Driscoll's side.

Twice they took the lead through James Hayter and twice it was surrendered, the second time to an unopposed header from Pools midfielder Anthony Sweeney.

Sweeney's second-half effort booked the Teessiders a ticket to their fifth play-off appearance in the past six years and condemned Cherries to another season in League One.

Cherries' failure to feature in the end of season shake-up will doubtless be met with contrasting opinions among the club's supporters. And it begs the question, is the glass half empty or half full?

Have they really "over-achieved" as Peterborough manager Barry Fry claimed after his side had become the fifth visiting team on the trot to triumph at the Fitness First Stadium last month?

Some would say it is not possible to "over-achieve", with O'Driscoll among them.

Was Paul Merson right when he said Cherries would have "no chance" in the Championship? Or was Colin Hendry closer to the mark when he said they would "hold their own"?

Have they performed miracles to remain in contention until the final day of the season considering the financial constraints and the crippling injury problems? Some Playershare investors may argue that they always came up trumps, while the supporters continued to dig deep to raise funds to finance key signings.

Was the absence of Warren Cummings with a broken leg as crucial as the sale of Jamie Vincent had been in 1999 when Cherries also missed out on the last day?

The current squad is, without doubt, one of the most talented in recent seasons. But are Hartlepool, Brentford and Sheffield Wednesday really that much better than Cherries?

And then, of course, there is the age-old chestnut - does the club really want promotion? Chairman Peter Phillips says it does while some conspiracy theorists say it doesn't.

Hartlepool caretaker-boss Martin Scott might be a novice in the art of management, having taken over the Pools hot-seat only last Wednesday, but he was able to provide some answers.

"Every team in the play-offs deserves to be there.

"Luton deserve to be champions, Hull deserve to go up automatically and us, Tranmere, Sheffield Wednesday and Brentford deserve to be in the play-offs.

"The league table doesn't lie except this season in the case of Wrexham who were only relegated because of their financial problems.

"I know this is a big downer for Bournemouth but they are a very good side and they've had a great season."

Hartlepool's arrival coincided with the launch of the first edition of an unofficial fanzine entitled 'View from the Tree'.

And although they were craning their necks from the branches, it must have looked good from the empty end after Hayter had given Cherries a 12th-minute lead in front of the distant North Stand.

Pools appeared to be there for the taking and were struggling to work out that they had the wind at their backs as they over-hit numerous balls out of play in the early stages.

And the visitors were rocked when Hayter nipped in at the near post to head Elliott's firm cross into the opposite corner to register his 21st goal of the season.

It was Cherries' first goal in front of their own fans for more than six hours and should have settled their nerves.

But instead of pushing on, O'Driscoll's side sat back, invited pressure and paid the ultimate penalty when Pools restored parity just eight minutes later.

Jon Daly rose at the far post to meet Matty Robson's deep cross, the striker's rather tame header squeezing inside the post with Neil Moss left flat footed.

For Daly, as belligerent up front for Pools as his golfing namesake is on the fairways, it was more a lofted sand wedge than a driver hit straight out of the screws.

Daly's goal temporarily silenced the home crowd but they were soon back on their feet after Spicer's surging run into the six-yard box had forced Michael Nelson to concede a corner that resulted in Cherries regaining the lead.

Again Hayter was the thorn in Hartlepool's side, the master marksman arriving with perfect timing to dispatch a diving header from Stock's inswinging delivery.

Pools offered little during a Cherries-dominated opening period and, apart from Daly's goal, the best they could muster was a Gavin Strachan free kick that was charged down by the wall.

And as the half drew to a close, Garreth O'Connor saw his viciously swerving right-foot effort from the edge of the box saved at the second attempt by Pools goalkeeper Konstantopoulos.

Cherries maintained the momentum into the second period and two early half chances fell to Hayter and O'Connor inside the opening four minutes.

Hayter, buoyed by his first-half double, opted to try his luck with an ambitious long-range pot-shot rather than pass to Fletcher, only to see his effort sail past the post.

But Cherries then seemed to run out of steam and despite huffing and puffing, they rarely looked likely to reach the front door, never mind blow the house down.

A loud and hopeful penalty appeal fell on deaf ears after Spicer's low, driven cross had appeared to strike Nelson's arm on the hour.

And the killer blow was administered just five minutes later when Sweeney ghosted in at the far post to power home Thomas Butler's beautifully-executed cross.

Pools goalkeeper Konstantopoulos remained untroubled as Cherries toiled in vain against a well-organised visiting defence.

Supporters from both camps held their breath after Cherries had been awarded a free kick in a central position around 22 yards from goal in the dying seconds.

But although Stock's effort was well struck, it was a touch too high and the ball cleared the crossbar before Cherries' play-off dream was ended by the final whistle.