The excitement of our push for promotion is reaching fever pitch as we start the final heptathlon of the season. Our emotions are up and down like a yo-yo in direct response to every point gained or lost, every goal scored or conceded. We are making every save with Matt Gilks, we are making every tackle with the defence, we are making every defence splitting pass with the midfield and we are scoring every chance with our lads up front. If only we could be there to show the Wanderers that we are totally behind them, but they have to do it on their own with us left to shout and scream at TV monitors in our isolated state.
We needed to pick ourselves up after the Newport hiccup, as we faced the Suphurites from the Spa town of Harrogate. On Grand National day, would we be at the races or would we turn into also-rans? In his search for goals, Ian Evatt brought in Marcus Maddison and Lloyd Isgrove to unlock the expected defensive bulwarks in blue. In a shocking first half, Harrogate were on fire. We did not turn up and we were fortunate that Harrogate were not out of sight by half time. The half time team talk and a change in tactics got us back into this game. We took our chances when they came along and got the valuable three points, with Matt Gilks making a brilliant save from veteran Jon Stead. Harrogate were left thinking, as we were at Newport, you do not always get what you deserve in football.
The important thing is we found some character and determination to turn this match around. I do not care what my neighbours think, I was shouting and cheering as Lloyd Isgrove and Eoin Doyle tucked those goals away and my fingernails got another trimming until the final whistle was blown.
Six more matches to go, six more challenges to overcome. We are back in the automatic promotion spots and we need to stay there. It is on to the Peninsula Stadium in Salford on Tuesday night, where in normal circumstances, we would have been packing it to the rafters. But we will all be there in spirit against a team that has not lost at home this season. I think that it is time that they did. Come on you Whites! Upwards and onwards.