Remember the feeling that the Alfie goal on Tuesday brought? That my friends, was the first goal of the end of season run in. The pressure's on and we're thriving on it.

It's squeaky bum time, edge of the seat stuff, business end of the season or whatever cliché ridden gubbins that might get quoted down the pub after the game, but make no mistake, we are absolutely in the thick of things, and we're loving every second of it.

Tuesday was one of those games that we've had down the years. The game where we have a bigger than normal crowd, our players put on one of the performances of the season, but too often over the years, we've come away full of praise for how we've played, but lamenting the result. Just how many times have we had both?

That late goal was celebrated like we'd won promotion there and then. The relief and ecstacy of going head to head in such a game, yet coming out on top simply confirmed what we've all been too afraid to admit.

The nearest comparison I can think of was the Dagnall goal at Rushden that time. Of course, the situation was at the BL9 end of the table, but it was a goal which brought so much relief and confidence to the squad, and ultimately was the turning point of that season. Could Alfie's goal do the same?

Well time will tell on that front, but be sure that previous optimism levels have suddenly headed to the 47th floor, and you can bet that at Spotland on Saturday afternoon, we'll have a much larger home following than normal, no doubt swelled as well by the 25,000 Grimsby fans who have headed straight to Spotland from Wembley with their painted faces and Fishy inflatables. Bless. At least, they'll know the game will be on.

From this Saturday, we'll have four weeks left of the season. And because of doing this "the Rochdale way", we've got about 17 games to squeeze in. Again, unlike back in 2001 where we were always playing catch up, we're firmly in there, and every game is a potential nail in the Chesterfield coffin.

It's a very psychological time of the season. For our 87th minute Yin, can you imagine the Yang felt down at Chesterfield? That thought of Dale overtaking them with a two point lead, yet still with two jokers left to play as well? Within minutes of our game finishing, a post on their board entitled "The Fat Lady sung at Spotland tonight".

Of course, being one who regularly kneels at the altar of the Footballing Gods, you can be assured that no one is getting ahead of ourselves. Normally, its teams down in 9th and 10th who talk about mathematically possibilities at this time of the season, but until we're absolutely guaranteed, then as far as we're conferned its still in the balance. After all, it was 12th placed Bradford who were singing about promotion on Tuesday.

Grimsby will be no mugs this Saturday, but they're horribly unpredictable at the moment. Who knows what affect that defeat to MK Dons in the JPT will have on them? Will it galvanize them or simply get their heads in the duty free lounge on the way to that post-season holiday to Benidorm?

The biggest question though is not what Grimsby will turn up, but which Dale. Not in terms of performance, but what players? All of a sudden, Keith Hill has an embarrassment of riches to pick from. 

Up front, Kallum Higginbotham staked a very good claim to heading back to his natural position on Tuesday, and even were we to just stick with the same team, we'd still be having a bench with Alfie and Dagnall on it, and it's just been a matter of weeks since our striking options were straight from the reserves. 

So it's back to Spotland Saturday, usual time, usual worries about the weather, and hopefully the usual smiles on the walk back up Sandy Lane after the game.

Enjoy the game. 

Photo: Action Images

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