It all comes down to the last game of the season after Nottingham Forest won their third game in a row to put them in third place, just one point behind Doncaster and ahead of Carlisle on goal difference.

Forest took a while to take control of the game but looked the better side for most of the first half. Hartlepool came into the game later in the half, although chances were few for both sides.

Forest produced some good football in the second half but it was the final ball that let them down until substitute Lewis McGugan finally found the back of the net to give Forest a much deserved win.

A poor pitch and windy conditions didn't provide ideal conditions for attractive football and although it was a good start by both sides chances were few and far between.

James Perch had the first chance after 12 minutes from Chris Cohen's corner. Ritchie Humphreys mis-kicked the clearance, allowing Perch to swivel quickly, sweeping the ball towards goal, but he was just wide of the near post.

Forest again caused problems from the corner when an in-swinging ball by Cohen was headed away on the line by Sam Collins while goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett stood rooted to the spot.

It was 27 minutes before Forest had another chance when Perch fed the ball through to Nathan Tyson who beat Collins with his speed, ran into the penalty area and produced a good shot which Lee-Barrett only just managed to save with his legs.

Hartlepool had their best period of the game after this with James Brown causing Kelvin Wilson problems and when Antony Sweeney got past Tyson his effort was put out by Wes Morgan.

And there was more danger when Perch headed away only as far as Ben Clark whose shot from 25 yards out went flying towards goal and had Paul Smith beaten, but the ball went just wide of the post.

Brett Ormerod, who had received lengthy treatment for an injury in the first half, was replaced at half time by Kris Commons.

And it the substitute who produced Forest's first chance of the half when he got away from two players and shot from the D, forcing Lee-Barrett to dive to his right to make the save.

And the away side had another chance when McCleary's cross picked out Wilson who nodded back across the face of goal to Tyson who headed just wide.

Great work by Commons from a short corner produced a good cross to Tyson who had the keeper beaten but was again off target, heading over the crossbar.

Andy Monkhouse created a chance for Hartlepool when he got the ball into the penalty area for Brown but his effort was blocked by Morgan and Perch eventually cleared on the edge of the D.

The Forest supporters, having the advantage of knowing that Carlisle were 3-0 down, were screaming for Forest to attack.

But it was the home side who had another chance when David Foley shot threatened the Forest goal and Smith was only able to save at the second attempt.

Colin Calderwood made a double substitution with 20 minutes remaining with Lewis McGugan coming on for Perch and Arron Davies for Matt Lockwood.

Tyson fashioned a great chance for Commons to give Forest the lead but the ball came in at speed and was hard to control and Commons missed the target from close range.

Tyson came out of the move limping badly but, with all Forest's substitutes used, he managed to recover enough to stay on.

Hartlepool came close to a late winner when the ball came in to Mackay on the back back post. He slid out a leg but couldn't quite get on the end of the ball.

Forest finally took the lead when Morgan put the ball through to McCleary who laid it off for McGugan and he curled the ball in from the edge of the penalty area.

And Commons came close to getting a second but the ball hit the bar from 18 yards out.

After a tense few minutes and a late corner for Hartlepool the final whistle seemed to take forever to come but Forest held off the late challenge and after nearly six minutes of stoppage time the whistle finally went.

Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Kelvin Wilson(C), Wes Morgan, Matt Lockwood(Arron Davies70min), Luke Chambers, James Perch(Lewis McGugan, 70min), Sammy Clingan, Chris Cohen, Brett Ormerod(Kris Commons, 45minHT), Nathan Tyson, Garath McCleary
Subs not used: Ian Breckin, Matt Thornhill,
Bookings: Chambers 45min, Lockwood 46min, Davies 86min
Scorer: McGugan 85min

Hartlepool United: Arran Lee-Barrett, Michael Nelson, Ben Clark, Gary Liddle, Ritchie Humphreys, Joel Porter(Michael Mackay 10min), Andy Monkhouse, James Brown, Antony Sweeney, David Foley(Matty Robson 73min), Sam Collins
Subs not used: Robbie Elliott, Willie Boland, Godwin Antwi,
Bookings: Monkhouse 86min

Referee: A Penn
Attendance: 5,206 away attn: 911