AT HALF-TIME this looked like a match that Cheltenham Town fans would want to erase from their memories immediately, but it turned out to be one that will be talked about for years.

There is unlikely to be a more incredible contest in any division this season as the Robins went goal crazy with an astonishing six strikes in the second half to snatch the most unlikely of victories in the 94th minute.

Mark Yates' side trailed 2-0 after a dire first-half performance and they were 5-3 behind with three minutes remaining before an unforgettable finish saw Michael Pook smash in the winner to complete a quick-fire hat-trick with virtually the last kick of the game in as dramatic a finale as many fans will ever witness.

There was no hint of what was to follow after a depressing first 45 minutes and it took Burton Albion, who won 1-0 at Whaddon Road last month, less than two minutes to break the deadlock.

Cheltenham were caught cold from a throw-in and Shaun Harrad had all the space and time he needed to plant a firm drive into the bottom left corner.

The Robins were all over the place, with the 4-5-1 formation totally ineffective against a Burton side who were first to everything. There was no composure, no desire and very little quality.

Dangerous winger Cleveland Taylor went close and Harrad's cross was almost reached by a diving Steve Kabba in the 10th minute.

Lee Ridley replaced Josh Low at left-back in the 16th minute due to an injury, but Low had endured a tough start to the game anyway and it did not get any easier for Ridley against his former Scunthorpe United colleague Taylor.

There was another head-shaking moment in the 23rd minute when a mix-up between Michael Townsend and Ashey Eastham allowed Harrad to run through unopposed and his shot was well turned over by Scott Brown at full stretch, with Yates barely able to watch from the bench.

Townsend was penalised for a foul on Harrad in the box after 31 minutes and the striker got up to beat Brown from the spot to register his 15th League Two goal of the campaign.

Cheltenham's first and only meaningful attempt on goal came in the 42nd minute when Elito crossed to the far post and Matt Thornhill's well-struck drive was saved by Artur Krysiak .

After some choice words from Yates, Cheltenham came out all guns blazing for the second half and found themselves level with two quick goals.

David Hutton was almost taken off at the break, but he came to life, robbing Burton's young centre-back Tom Parkes, before cutting inside along the goal-line and squaring for Justin Richards to tap in from close range in the 53rd minute.

Pook's driven cross was then crashed into the top right corner emphatically by Medy Elito in the 56th minute as a comeback looked on the cards.

But less than two minutes later, Taylor's low cross was deflected past Brown by the unfortunate Townsend as Burton went 3-2 up and looked capable of scoring at will.

It was 4-2 in the 72nd minute when a weak headed clearance from Aaron Lescott fell straight to Kabba, who slammed past Brown clinically.

Pook's free-kick from the edge of the penalty area gave Cheltenham a glimmer hope after substitute Julian Alsop had been fouled in the 84th minute, but Burton appeared to have put the game beyond doubt when Harrad set up Kabba for his second barely a minute later.

But the drama continued when Hutton squared to Pook and his long-range effort looped over Krysiak off Romuald Boco in the 87th minute and Richards slotted in his second of the afternoon in the 90th minute after latching on to Alsop's flick.

It looked like honours were to finish even as the clock ran down after a breathless half of non-stop action, but Pook pounced on a headed clearance from a corner to smash a memorable winner into the roof of the net from 25 yards to snatch all three points.

It was the first time Cheltenham have scored six in a Football League match and their predicament close to the relegation zone combined with the manner of the victory must surely make this one of the most extraordinary matches in their history.

BURTON ALBION: A Krysiak; A Corbett, T James, T Parkes, P Boertien; C Taylor, J McGrath, R Penn, J Maghoma (R Boco 60); S Kabba, S Harrad. Subs not used: K Poole, A Webster, R Walker, J Phillips, G Pearson, K Grocott.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; J Low (L Ridley 16), M Townsend, A Eastham, A Lescott; D Hutton, A Gallinagh (J Alsop 64), M Pook, M Thornhill, M Elito; J Richards. Subs not used: S Duff, M Watkins, W Puddy, D Andrew, B Hayles.

REFEREE: C Boyeson.

ATTENDANCE: 2,500.

STAR MAN: Michael Pook