A poor performance in the last match of the season saw the Tigers slump to a 0-3 defeat to a committed Hartlepool side. City were two nil behind after only eight minutes, thanks to very sloppy defending from set pieces. The Tigers even had a man advantage for the last hour of the game, after Gary Strodder was sent off for a bad foul on David Brown. For the most part however, it was the monkey hangers who looked more likely to score and they duly scored a third on thirty seven minutes thanks to yet more sloppy defending from set pieces. Gary Brabin went closest for the Tigers with an excellent shot from twenty five yards, but the ball hit the crossbar and went over for a goal kick. The result, and the fact that both Cheltenham and Torquay lost means that Hartlepool take the final play-off berth and will face close rivals Darlington for the privilege of playing at Wembley.