RUEFUL Hartlepool boss Chris Turner was left to reflect on a costly late collapse at Burnley a fortnight ago as his side beat the Clarets 3-2 last night but still ended up going out of the Worthington Cup.

Late first-leg goals from Steve Davis and Andy Payton gave Burnley the cushion to avoid a shock on the North East coast as the First Division side went through 6-4 on aggregate.

And Turner was left to ponder what might have been for his plucky minnows.

He said: "Burnley are a good side and we've given them two difficult games. Sam Ellis said before the game that at half-time at Turf Moor they thought they weren't going to get back in it.

"And it was only the last five minutes at Turf Moor where they got two late goals where the tie was finished.

"If we had been coming back here 2-1 I think we could have done it. It was a mountain to climb but give credit to the lads.

"We went a goal down and still came back and won so people who say we haven't got committed players here, we'll prove them wrong."

That was in response to criticism that came Hartlepool's way after they had lost 3-1 at home to Shrewbury Town in the Third Division on Saturday.

And Turner's men couldn't have bounced back any better than securing a late winner on the night from Paul Stephenson.

"We ran out 3-2 winners and we could easily have won by more.

"It was only quality finishing by Burnley, otherwise it would have been a convincing win," the manager added.