It's that time of the season. The time when the live league table becomes a consideration for those in the stands, and with 20 minutes to go on Good Friday Bristol Rovers were in danger of losing ground.
But when you have players like Elliot Anderson, there really should be little cause for concern. The Newcastle United starlet was the difference once again for the Gas, drilling in at the near post with 15 minutes to play to instigate an eruption at the Mem as promotion rivals Salford City were beaten 1-0.
Anderson's inspiration helped Rovers climbed to fifth in League Two, sparking jubilant scenes on terraces that show no shortage of belief in Joey Barton's squad with four games left in the race for promotion. In a season of memorable moments, this was another tale for the scrapbook.
The match-winner sparks memorable scenes
A week after providing the crucial equaliser at Tranmere, Elliot Anderson weighed in with yet another big goal for his adopted club. The teenager has had a transformative effect on the Gas since his arrival on January deadline day. So often when required, he has provided the inspiration they needed, keeping Rovers' hopes of automatic promotion alive ahead of the Easter Monday trip to third-placed Port Vale.
With Anderson, the aesthetics are just different. He is so obviously a level above and that is not to discredit his teammates but more a compliment of his inherent superiority. His nickname 'Billy' likens him to a ballerina and that is often true to his fancy footwork, but there is a brutality about this lad as well. When he hits it, my god does it stay hit.
Maybe it was a cross in the first half when Salford keeper Tom King was scrambling and floundering as the ball swerved wide, but even if it was a ball aimed at a teammate rather than the top corner the power Anderson produced was striking.
The same can be said of the goal. A keeper shouldn't get beaten at his near post is an old footballing trope, but King had no chance of stopping this strike. Anderson has often gone for the far corner in that situation before, but he reversed it this time with trademark power and precision.
A huge occasion awaits Rovers at Vale Park, but this one was quite something, too. With more than 9,500 supporters packed into the Mem in the spring sunshine, there were scenes rarely seen before, during and after the game. The fanzone behind the North Terrace was rammed before kick-off and the stands were quite literally bouncing once the game had begun, such was the anticipation on the terraces.
Salford were holding firm as Rovers dominated yet another game without scoring freely. The goals may be hard to come by but those Gasheads continued to believe one would eventually arrive because for several months now, Rovers have usually been rather good at showing up in the big moments.
With a quarter of an hour to play, the Gas had little to show for their waves of pressure but with talents like Anderson and the returning Antony Evans on the pitch, they only need half a chance to strike a winning blow. Anderson delivered precisely that, darting inside from the left side before firing a laser into the bottom corner.
The resulting celebrations were epic. The East Terrace that usually would be occupied by away fans had been added to the home section for this game and the 19-year-old celebrated in front of those Gasheads. This was the Mem at its best. Limbs everywhere.
Delerium faded and anxiety grew as Salford threw bodies forward in desperation, but Rovers continued to blunt the Ammies' attack.
The final whistle followed soon after, met by McFadden & Whitehead once again as the unstoppable home form of Barton's Blues continued. If it is to be the play-offs, no-one will fancy a trip to the Mem. It was a raucous place during the game and a joyous one at the conclusion. A couple of cheeky youngsters snuck onto the pitch for photo opportunities before Barton thumped his fist in delight towards the Thatchers.
It was another tangible showing of the momentum Rovers have accrued. There is a confidence around the places that is doubtless helping a team that has produced more than its fair share of magic moments.
The latest chapter in the Luke Thomas story
The last time these sides met, it ended in painful fashion for the Gas, who threw away three points against 10 men. It was an even more challenging night for Luke Thomas.
A missed chance to kill the game in November was the final straw for his manager, who decided it was time for a last-ditch move to rescue Thomas' time at Rovers and perhaps the player's career. Barton shocked reporters pitchside at Moor Lane with his brutal assessment of Thomas and his professionalism, doubling down on his criticism at his next press conference at The Quarters a few days later.
Thomas, he said, was in the last-chance saloon, and Barton's harsh words certainly prompted a response from Thomas. But this case has not followed a simple script. There have been continued struggles to break into the team with intense competition for places in attacking midfield, but Thomas has been grafting to put himself in contention.
The 22-year-old got a chance on Friday, being introduced from the dugout with 20 minutes to play with Rovers needing inspiration and the Barnsley loanee helped provide it. He gave them something different, taking up pockets of space between the Salford midfield and defence, receiving the ball on the half-turn and driving forward. He did it once and looked dangerous.
The second time, he stretched the defence and picked out Elliot Anderson in a dream situation for the Gas, isolated one on one with the full-back. Anderson seemingly cannot be contained in that position and he duly provided the winner, but Thomas' played a vital hand in creating it.
The moment was not lost on Gasheads aware of the challenges Thomas has faced in the past year, and not only was it a good-news story but perhaps a huge fillip for the Gas ahead of the final four games. A fit and firing Luke Thomas is a valuable weapon at Barton's disposal.
Passed the test
Connor Taylor and James Connolly have faced plenty of target men this season, but few will have had the nous and physical strength that Matt Smith has. Salford's spending power was shown in January by signing Smith from Millwall in January when many believed the 32-year-old could still do a job in the Championship.
The former Leeds United and Queens Park Rangers forward has helped turn Salford's fortunes around, offering a high-class focal point to their attack with his knowledge of buying fouls, winning flick-ons and dominating in the air.
He did not enjoy his afternoon at the Mem, though, with 20-year-olds Taylor and Connolly up to the challenge. Both were composed, not at all perturbed by the presence of a 6ft 6in striker in their proximity, disrupting the supply of long balls to Smith and limiting the number of attacking platforms he could give the visitors.
Ultimately, he was kept to just a couple of relatively tame headers, with James Belshaw saving both either side of half time on an afternoon that was another box ticked in the development of the Stoke City and Cardiff City prospects. The challenges keep coming and they are meeting them head on.
Clarke's pain could be Loft's gain
One can only imagine the frustration Leon Clarke has felt this season as he vies to eek every possible game out of a fine playing career, but the 37-year-old's body has prevented him from playing the role he would have liked.
He was due to start on Friday but felt a twinge in his hamstring before kick-off and had to be withdrawn. At this stage, it is unclear if the veteran forward will be fit enough to have the chance to add to his tally of two goals from 10 appearances this season.
Clarke had been keeping January signing Ryan Loft out of the matchday squad, with Barton deciding to carry only one target man on the bench with several other more dynamic attacking assets at his disposal, but with Clarke unable to feature, Loft was called up to the squad at the last minute.
The 24-year-old did not get onto the pitch, but if Clarke is unable to play again this season Loft could have an opportunity to prove his worth to Gasheads. With four games to play, there could be a situation when Rovers need a big body up front to spearhead their attack.
As Luke Thomas showed, players who have been on the fringes for much of the season can still help shape Rovers' future and another man's pain could be to Loft's gain.
A huge occasion
While Rovers were battling past Salford, Port Vale were doing the same at Hartlepool United on Friday to set up a tantalising clash in Burslem on Monday. Vale's win kept them five points clear of the chasing back for the final automatic promotion place, but not a single Gashead could begrudge Darrell Clarke a special moment as he celebrated on the pitch at full time at Victoria Park after several weeks away due to a family bereavement.
It was heart-warming viewing as Clarke was hailed by the Vale fans, and Monday promises to be an emotional occasion with the expected 2,000 travelling Gasheads sure to give their iconic former boss the warmest of receptions.
But once the whistle blows for kick-off, both teams will only be playing with self-interest in mind. Rovers' hopes of automatic promotion likely rest on victory in the Potteries, while a win for Vale could put them on the precipice of a place in League One.
Two teams in superb form will collide with so much on the line.
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