Striker Adam Boyd scored his 12th goal in ten games to ensure Hartlepool clinched the point they needed to join Swindon Town in the end of season play-offs.
Neale Cooper's side appeared to be heading for the agony of finishing one place outside the top six thanks to Sam Igoe's opening goal after only seven minutes, before Boyd struck with 20 minutes remaining.
The striker has been in sensational scoring form since returning from a loan spell at third division Boston United and he showed all his finishing instincts to give goalkeeper Rhys Evans no chance from ten yards out.
Midfielder Hugh Robertson delivered an inviting cross from the left for Boyd to rise above Swindon's static defence and power a header inside the left-hand corner.
The goal was no more than Hartlepool deserved after they had laid siege to Swindon's goal in the second half after falling behind to Igoe's fortuitous opener.
The midfielder was looking for strikers Rory Fallon and Sam Parkin when he crossed from the left, only for his centre to elude everyone and creep in at the far post for his fifth goal of the season.
David Duke came close to adding a second a minute before the half-time interval in a move that would have been one of the goals of the season if he had scored.
Igoe collected goalkeeper Evans' long clearance from the halfway line before feeding Parkin who played Duke through on goal, but he shot too close to Jim Provett and the Hartlepool goalkeeper gratefully saved.
Hartlepool were inches away from levelling the scores in the 50th minute when Evans had to claw away Robertson's quickly taken free-kick that was destined for the top right-hand corner.
Hartlepool's Mark Tinkler wasted a glorious chance in the 65th minute to level the scores when he headed over the crossbar when just eight yards out and it looked as if his miss could cost his side dear before Boyd intervened.