Just one week after the despair of a capitulation at Carlisle, Rovers fans are gain in dreamland, the club occupying the third automatic promotion slot. But it’s going to be an adrenalin fuelled ride till the final home fixture against Dagenham in early May. Only 6 games to go. Can we really get there?
After an indifferent February the Gas really were the form team of Division Two in March, with only the Carlisle loss blotting our copybook. There are no easy games left. Next week Northampton will be keen to capture the 3 points to secure automatic promotion. Yeovil at the Mem will be keen to secure points to avoid the drop. Exeter will be keen to show their victory over Plymouth was no fluke. Similarly Stevenage York and ‘the Daggers’ are desperate for points to avoid the trap door.
It was great to see the Gas bounce back in style against ‘the Creepies’ on Saturday. It was great to welcome back Matty Harrold to the Mem, but better to see that he as effectively shackled by Mark McChrystal for much of the game. The meeting with Rory Gaffney might have been termed the battle of the ginger ninja’s. Despite some good touches neither really set the game alight. But Gaffney was instrumental in securing the corner which led to Matty Taylor’s first goal.
The first half was a turgid affair. Rovers were keen to block the threat from Crawley and neither side really got into their stride. Just as we were bemoaning our traditional poor start to the second period Matty Taylor pops up with a rocket header from a corner and that really changed the game. Much as I like Mark McChrystal I cannot see him as the MOM. Following Taylor’s goal we found our second wind. Liam Lawrence who has showed the odd signs of quality laced in a second over the wall, from what looked like a soft free kick and folk hero Matty Taylor was there to knock in his second.
A 3-0 win never seemed on the cards at half time, but it says plenty about the never say die attitude of the players. In truth Mildenhall had little to do in goal and Crawley had plainly come for the draw. Locker and McChystal were solid at the back and Leadbitter a menace coming forward. To my mind Lee Brown had an off day, but over the season has to be one of our best. Christian Montano seems to be the fall-guy whenever we need to pack the midfield, and his introduction added a new dimension to the game when he came on.
Taking the last 3 seasons into account most supporters will be happy with our current position of third. Darren Clarke is a a deep thinking, hardworking manager, but boy does he confuse me and many of our fans with his tinkering. Claudio Ranieri found that it does not pay and look where Leicester are now! However secure automatic promotion or even the play-offs and I am sure most Gasheads will be in 7th heaven.
Come on you Gas. Come on you Blues. Only 6 games left. Go for it. What do we have to lose?
(Other than our League Two status.)
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