The euphoria was overwhelming after the 4-1 win over Carlisle United last weekend, and no wonder. Any more excitement and people would have been singing out in the streets!

Fans’ over-reaction in football is legendary of course, and part of the fun. In our case it’s exaggerated by almost five years of frustration. Carlisle really hurt us in the first half after Porter’s opener, more than any side that has visited Weston Homes stadium this season. They did it by getting bodies breaking forward using the width of the pitch. It was an education to see an away side with such bravery.

There was a time before and after Kurtis Guthrie’s first goal that we had difficulty stemming the tide and Carlisle looked possible winners. The final 15 minutes of the first half was really a question of protecting the lead so that we could reorganise at half time.

The second half saw some subtle changes and they made all the difference. Where the changes came from I cannot say. I do know that there is now some good football intellect in that changing room with not just the manager, but Steve Ball and Owen Garvan and others. Someone deserves a big pat on the back as the changes were a masterstroke.

Like everyone, I was watching the game rather than watching the players, but I think Craig Slater was told to push forward down a right-hand channel, sort of three quarters wide, which had the effect of keeping Carlisle pinned back a bit down their left, where they had been so successful in the first half. Garvan was hanging back guarding the centre, with Lapslie covering space and any runners.

Understanding and comms between Brindley and Slater was vital so they didn't crowd each other (in possession) on the right or leave us exposed (out of possession). We still had the hugely dangerous / strong defending Dickerson on the other side, to keep it balanced.

If that was the plan (and I may be wrong) it worked to perfection. But back to Guthrie and the goals.

Ah yes, Kurtis Guthrie. What a story he is writing for himself. Back in September I was ridiculed for talking about him as a potential player of the year. There was a moment when my confidence nearly wavered but he has come back with a bang and on Saturday he took his game to a new level.

Kurtis’s performance on Saturday was our last three months in microcosm. It really was. Kurtis hardly saw the ball for the first 30 minutes. Not fault at all, but he just wasn’t in the game. He was the living, breathing equivalent of a winless run!

Then after 33 minutes an opening and a bit of space on the edge of the Carlisle box appeared and Kurtis rifled the ball into the back of the net with his left foot. The next hour was bliss and joy unrestrained with Kurtis feeling and playing like Superman by the time the final whistle went.

How the crowd loved Kurtis’ virtuoso performance. I swear that every man woman and child in the South Stand was willing him to complete his hat-trick, suffering the agony of the missed chance and crossbar strike, and exulting when the ball finally broke kindly for him to roll it into the net four minutes into injury time.

I've had my press pass taken away this season, but even that has had a silver lining as the South Stand is without doubt the place to be at the moment. On Saturday I was reminded of sitting in the West Stand watching a League One game against Southampton a few years ago.

It was one of the games that I had taken Dick Graham to, as football was one of his few real pleasures on his final years at a time when he was chronically and grievously disabled.

During a lull in play, Dick pointed up to South Stand crazy gang and said ‘that’s where I would really like to be’. In amongst the singing and standing and euphoria. Of course he had nailed it, as ever, rest his soul.