2007 (Succeeded)

This is the weirdest of successes because it felt like a failure. I remember the game well: a baking hot day (remember those?) and a feeling of real malaise. We’d collapsed in the second half of the season, and for the first time in this little run of final-day successes, I didn’t even take part in the pitch invasion at the end of the game.

We started the day in fifth, 71 points but just nine goal difference. Shrewsbury were one place below us, a point fewer but 22 goal difference. Then came Bristol Rovers, on a run, 69 points but just plus two. All three of us should have made the final seven, but Stockport were lurking, 68 points six goal difference. However, it is important to remember we’d won just once in 12 matches, and were really struggling.

Stockport did what they needed to do – they stuffed Darlington 5-0 away. Shrewsbury drew 2-2 with Grimsby, but that was enough to see them get into the final play-off spot. Bristol Rovers, on a roll in the league, won their eighth game in 11 to slot in just beneath us.

We did what we needed to do, but not before Mazza had saved a Chris Holroyd penalty at the Stacey West end. Mark Stallard gave us the lead, Simon Yeo had a goal ruled out (for Chester), and finally, a Jamie Forrester penalty sealed the win. We then lost 7-4 to The Gas on aggregate in the semi-finals, Rickie Lambert getting some revenge with one of their goals.

2018 (Succeeded)

Finally, Yeovil again. This time, Danny Cowley was in charge in our first season back in the league. That was quite a season; we won at Wembley and gave ourselves hope in the top seven by beating Coventry late on. We went into the final game with Mansfield able to catch us. They had 71 points, we had 74, so a point would do us. The Stags were at home to Crawley, and the goal difference was just one. If we lost and they won, it was over. Any other result for us, and it was us going on to face one of Exeter, Notts County or Coventry.

I wasn’t at the game; sadly, I was having my back operated on and was barely conscious, which might have been for the best. Jordan Green gave them a 10th-minute lead with a weak effort Ryan Allsop should perhaps have done better with, although Karlan Grant did the same for Crawley. City then got a penalty, Matt Green firing at the keeper and then drilling the rebound off the underside of the bar and out again.

Mansfield equalised midway through the half but couldn’t get the goal they needed. We did – a one-sided second half was eventually tipped in our favour as Tom Pett lofted a delicious ball over a packed area and into the net, to set up some more semi-final disappointment against Exeter City.