DC has told supporters they should be ready to ride a rollercoaster of emotions as the chase for the Vanarama Conference title edges towards an exciting climax. Supporters filed away from Moss Rose last Saturday afternoon disappointed that Rovers had been held by Macclesfield to drop two valuable points in their quest to overturn Barnet in the race for the one highly-coveted automatic promotion spot. Barnet, however, dropped two points themselves later in the day after conceding a goal in stoppage time to draw 1-1 at Alfreton Town that meant Rovers remained only a single point behind the leaders with five games of the season remaining. Clarke said: “I can understand that some people were disappointed after the Macclesfield game because they probably already had Barnet and Grimsby ticked off as winning their games later in the day. I know the lads were a bit flat in the changing room afterwards for the same reason, but I told them that nothing was going to be won or lost on Saturday. The result at Alfreton later in the day shows that emotions can change from minute-to-minute when you are chasing success at the business end of the season. Everybody thought Barnet were home and hosed before Christmas and the only thing people were wondering about was how many points they were going to win the league by. A couple of months on and they are only leading by one point and that is testament to ourselves and Grimsby for keeping pace with it over the last few months.” Rovers get an opportunity to return to the top of the Vanarama Conference on Friday afternoon if they can see off Chester at the Memorial Stadium before both Barnet and Grimsby Town play their respective fixtures almost 24 hours later on Saturday afternoon. Clarke and his team will then be followed by more than 2,500 supporters up the M5 to Kidderminster Harriers on Easter Monday. DC said: “We have a big six points to play for over the Easter weekend and we’re looking forward to it. The bottom line is that we are a point off the top of the league with five games to go and in with a great chance. We weren’t at our best last weekend, but I don’t see there should be any negativity around the place. There certainly hasn’t been any amongst myself and the players at the training ground this week. I want the players to carry on enjoying the experience of going out on the pitch and playing football because when you are trying to win the league the most important thing for me to do is to take as much pressure as possible away from them. They have all been outstanding for me over the last few months and I can only recall maybe one game in the last 13 or 14 where I have been disappointed with the performance. We lost at home to Eastleigh and we weren’t good enough on the day, but victories at Grimsby and Gateshead and draws away at Halifax and Macclesfield suggests we have been on a good run of form and we must try and keep that going until the end of the season.” Taken from the local rag.
The challenge is keeping focused on the prize. I remember Trolls not getting carried away after the semis win at Lincoln. I'm sure DC has a similar mindset. I'm looking forward to it, but it is going to be really tense, particularly in the tighter games.
Like I've said before, 'what will be will be', I cannot see there's any mileage in getting all worked up over it, afterall it's only a bit of entertainment for nine months or so each year, there are plenty more important things in life.
