CITY finally exorcised their play-off semi-final ghost of twelve months ago as the man from Cardiff booked his team a final place in his home city.

Christian Roberts has had a mixed season in terms of success, but his last gasp strike in Wednesday night's semi-final second leg at home to Hartlepool was one of the most important strikes of his life.

Cardiff-born, striker Roberts will relish the prospect of a play-off final at the city's Millennium Stadium. His late goal in City's incredible 2-1 victory was the catalyst for the Robins to extinguish the painful memories of their defeat at this stage twelve months ago at the hands of, you've guessed it, Cardiff City.

Following last Saturday's hard-hitting, physical 1-1 draw at Victoria Park, where Tony Rougier's early opener was cancelled out by Joel Porter's equaliser after a Steve Phillips mistake, Wednesday night proved to be an atmospheric encounter, played out in front of a cauldron-like Ashton Gate capacity crowd.

Adam Boyd had already struck a post for the 'Pool before Anthony Sweeney headed home a shock opener in the 62nd minute, as City began to fear that it all might go wrong again.

However, as City pressed in desperation for a lifeline, Marc Goodfellow thundered home a header in the 88th minute and the home crowd erupted.

Goodfellow, signed from Stoke City mid-season, was arguably the shortest man on the pitch, and is more commonly associated with supplying crosses rather than finishing them off. However, he made no mistake from 15 yards out to haul City back into the game.

Then, minutes later, it was two as Roberts raced onto a long through ball before skinning Mark Nelson and firing the ball across keeper Jim Provett to send the crowd into utter delirium.

Hartlepool may have dominated the match for long periods, but the final 20 minutes belonged to City, and few can argue that they deserve a place in the final having soared through the season with several long unbeaten runs, eventually finishing in third place.

Danny Wilson's team now await the winners of the Swindon/Brighton clash from last night, as the play-off final beckons on Sunday, May 30.