2003 (Succeeded)

2003 was the first time that success had been in our hands. On the previous four occasions, we’d been relying on others to do us a favour, but in 2003, it was all up to us. If we got a draw against Torquay United, we’d be in the play-offs. Any other result, and Oxford could overtake us. It’s worth remembering that; we always focus on what we achieved, but Oxford was the team we were holding off. If they won and we lost, it was game over. They were at home to York, and they led from the third minute, eventually winning 2-0.

As for us, we went 1-0 down on 31 minutes and then could have conceded a second, only for Alan Marriott to save a cheeky Panenka penalty. The minutes ebbed away, and with his last roll of the dice, Keith Alexander threw on Simon Yeo.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. His goal will be talked about until the day the last person who witnessed it is buried. He smashed home to give us a draw, breaking Oxford hearts and setting up a two-legged tie with Scunthorpe in the play-offs.

2004 (Succeeded)

It’s not a widely known fact, but we also needed a result on the final day of the following season, 2003/04. We started the day in sixth with 74 points and played Yeovil in eighth, who had 71. Now, we could lose, but there couldn’t be a five-goal swing. Our goal difference was plus 22, theirs plus 12, so a 6-0 defeat would see them in the top seven instead of us. They had already beaten us 3-1 at their place, but hopes were still high.

It was 0-0 at half time, so far so good. Then they went 1-0 up through Adam Stansfield before Jake Edwards added a second. Were we in trouble? Could we survive the onslaught?

Yes. Sub Aaron Wilford scored on 82 minutes before Simon Yeo bagged on the final day after coming off the bench to make it 2-2. A late winner for them was immaterial – we finished seventh (with 19 wins compared to their 23), and went through to face Huddersfield in the play-offs. Incidentally, had we not conceded late, we’d have faced Mansfield, with the home leg second; our record against Mansfield in that season, across two matches, was a 6-2 aggregate win.