Fan Blog: Automatic ? It’s Hydromatic.

After an early setback at Newport, Rovers came out fighting and Ollie Clarke’s pile-driver restored parity by halftime. The 4-1 final score was testament to the fighting spirit shown by the team in making a 5 match winning run in March

Where now? The situation at the top is simple. Northampton and Oxford are nailed on for an automatic spot. After getting promotion last year, could the Gas really achieve a second consecutive promotion? With 9 games to go, it is between us Plymouth and Stanley for the third automatic place.

Early pace-setters Plymouth have faltered at the same time we have been on our winning streak. Stanley have been difficult to beat all season. There will be many highs and lows over the next few weeks and with many of the top teams playing each other Portsmouth, Orient and Wycombe must also be fancying their chances.

Before the start of the season most Gasheads would have settled on a mid table finish safe from relegation fears. However Darrell Clarke and the Old Board have done us proud. To be in with a chance of automatic promotion and at worst a play-off place is fantastic. Another trip to Wembley would be awesome, having automatic promotion would be beyond our wildest dreams.

I was very pleased to see Rory Gaffney make a quick return from injury, Matty Taylor continue his awesome scoring run and Ellis Harrison get on the score-sheet. After a fantastic last season, Ellis was so disappointed by his contribution he wanted to go on loan to Hartlepool. Perhaps his late goal is a sign that he does have a very promising future with the Gas.

This week’s decision from the Appeal Court was a major disappointment. According to the Judges, Sainsburys had every right to terminate the agreement to buy the Mem. So can we sue the people who drafted such a worthless contract and the legal professionals who first of all insisted we had a good case and then that we were certain to win the appeal. Now we have a new owner committed to the project, perhaps we can draw a line on this and move on.

On a personal level I was very disappointed that Nathan Blissett was deemed not up to standard. In recent weeks his performances for Torquay have been match -winning and is giving them every chance of beating the drop. Go get-em Nathan.

Our performances in March must mean Darrell Clarke is in with a great shout for Manager of the month. Let’s hope the loss of Lockyer and Harrison due to an international call-up can be accommodated within our talented squad. The Good Friday fixture at home to Cambridge I sure to be a sell-out. Let’s hope we can make it six out of six. Come on your Gas, come on you Blues!