Hartlepool's dream of moving out of the lower divisions for the first time in their history were cruelly blasted in the final five minutes of their play-off semi-final second leg at Ashton Gate.
They had gone ahead with a stooping header from young Tony Sweeney and were rocking Bristol City with the power and precision of their play.
Their thousand fans in the sell-out crowd of 18,434 were convinced they were heading for the divisional final in Cardiff at the end of the month.
From the start they had looked the side most likely to break the stalemate of the 1-1 finish from the first leg.
Sweeney had gone close in the first half with a powerful downward header as he met Hugh Robertson's cross, but was just off target.
Adam Boyd then burst through the home defence to slam his shot against the left-hand post of well beaten keeper Steve Phillips.
Sweeney's golden moment came as he went low to meet Eifion Williams centre from just inside the right touchline and his header was expertly directed away from Phillips.
City had finished nine points ahead of Hartlepool in the league, but were heading for a big upset.
They had been forced to reorganise their attack after losing Lee Peacock to an ankle injury on the half hour. But a gamble by Robins manager Danny Wilson and an injury to Hartlepool skipper Michael Barron dramatically changed the closing minutes.
First Marc Goodfellow, arriving as a late sub, headed in a Christian Roberts centre for the equaliser and then in injury-time Roberts cut in from the left to grab the winner.
The poor Hartlepool contingent in the crowd were stunned.
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