Bring on the Goats (2)

Town fans continue to walk round with smiles on faces, and hopefully many more will be 'going down the Wyle Cop to see the Shrewsbury aces' tonight as the 'weetabix chuckers' return to Salop, fresh from their Johnstones Paint triumph over their 'City' rivals. A tad jealous I have to say of a visit of April Fools Day to Cardiff to meet Doncaster, but with what's going on with us at the mo, whose bothered!

At least there will be a chance for revenge. Rovers will probably hark back to that famous night at Twerton when we 'did them' but since then they've beaten us 5-2 at home so I think they have their dues now. And anyway we'd rather go up via a Wembley final!

Going back to Sunday and again it was a joy to behold. Of recent years winning at the Goats hasn't be en prolific, in fact beating Wrexham hasn't been. But Town oozed confidence at the Racecourse against a Dragons team who I didn't think were that bad (certainly not Boston standard!), but despite their quality seemed unable to really penetrate a Town team, by their own admission, not really firing on all cylinders!

I went for a pre match pint in the Crown. Well actually it was a pre breakfast pint in the Crown, before going up the Prince of Wales for brekkie. I have to say that first pint of Worthy's after a pretty heavy session the night before was hard, but it went down all the same.

Breakfast was what was needed and Vicky served up her usual top notch full English, with a nice sugary cup of tea. My head was still a bit light after the Saturday session (and a few beers in Nantwich -see tonight's programme article) so I decided to go for a walk with a few others, and as the Cross Foxes was open, it was rude not to pop in and have another pint!

The journey to Wrexham was as ever a laugh a minute when Bizzy Lad is on board, and being joined by Cheeky Farmer, Gis, Dom Kirby etc, the banter soon flowed. The trip to the 'Sheepcourse' soon flew by.

It became quite apparent that Town's following at the Goats was huge, and that there weren't that many seats in the Eric Roberts left. Luckily we managed to find a row at the back, and waited in anticipation. Watching the Town players warming up, and giving them the vibe that this was more than do-able.

It must be amazing for an away player to walk out in front of that sort of following, and for a home one, a bit disconcerting look over at an almost deserted Kop. Town were one nil before the game started!

Ronseal and Degsy again come up with the goods, forming a really useful partnership. I was taking on the way home how good we looked with 3-5-2. At last a formation that suits our personnel. In all honesty Wrexham had no real answer, although I have to say at 3-1 up I was nervous.

Why? Well of course Town fans of old have seen the blue and amber chucking games like that away. Rochdale a couple of seasons ago springs to mind! But Town now have belief, and it's great to see.

As the game progressed we were all texting Wynnie the score. For those that didn't know Wynnie and family have being missing since mid January visiting relatives in Austria (sorry Australia). So on the day in question Chris had no Internet access, and relied on the old SMS. It was surprising just how quickly the messages were getting through, although Chris thought that when I texted through 3-1 I'd made a mistake. Surely 4-0 was the part time Blackpool's fan reply. By this time I gathered it was early in the morning, Chris had been drinking port, and as I picture it, there was this 'pom' in the outback going mental, waking up the kangers and koala's because big Leo 'Fred' West had beautifully put Town three nil up at our biggest rivals (AFC who?).

Anyway the night was 'Eric' (Young - copyright Bizzy Lad - please don't let him tell you the 'cheeks of my arse joke') and we headed back to the Prince for some tucker, then down the Boars Head watching the excellent League Cup Final, before back up the Prince for a few more beers, and we left the pub with even Vicky singing 'Shrewsbury till we die'.

It's hard not to get excited, but I still think the play offs will be just a little too much for us, but as the points keep being pilled on, who knows. Town get themselves into a good position (and tenth aint bad) then anything is possible, and even I will start having belief.

The pitches could still cripple us, but spring weather is starting to creep in despites today's frost, and if we get a run of good dry weather who knows. Gay Meadow is never a carpet but to loose that heaviness will aid the players so much in a very difficult run in.

Still at least we have an extra day to recover, and although like me the amount of Friday night games has been concerning you can see the benefits now.

Bristol Rovers are a funny side and their cup exploits speak volumes, but they are beatable and Town on their present run should be able to cope with them. I wonder how they fancy faceing the prospect of facing Ronseal and Degsy, or then Cooke or Symes!

The one piece of bad news seems the likely departure of Dave Edwards. I can hear my former work colleague Simon Middleditch waxing lyrical about how much better a player Edwards was compared to Tolley, and maybe if Dave doesn't want to go the same way a move would be beneficial. I hope of course he does stay as playing in League One next season with us (see I am starting to believe) would not harm his career. But the ghosts of Rodgers, and Tolley, and then seeing how well Joe Hart is doing (although it made me laugh when City said they were keen to get him some first team games - so another loan spell is likely) would be too much of a pull for me. In the meantime you can guarantee if there is one player who will continue to give his all for Town it will be Dave.

Come on Salop, another three points tonight, and then beat the Goats again. Easy isn't it! There again Wynnie is back from Australia. And the last time that happened, we went down!

Blue and Amber always

Ade Plimmer