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Another typical week in the life of a Gillingham fan, encompassing the full range of emotions us football fans endure on account of our beloved, but nonetheless infuriating teams. 

Tuesday´s match at home to Darlington was petering out into a frustrating 0-0 before a penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time gave us all three points, and a rare feeling of last-gasp elation. But that soon turned to deflation on Saturday as Grant Holt´s late, late equaliser for Shrewsbury meant the Gills let a two goal lead evaporate in the final quarter of an hour. 

And to think it was all going so well. For once my radio commentary wasn´t stuttering, allowing me to join ranks with the Rainham End, who, seven thousand miles away, were absolutely rocking as the game kicked off. Manager Mark Stimson had issued a rallying call in midweek for the fans to be more vocal, and they certainly didn´t disappoint.  Three minutes in, Curtis Weston raised the roof even higher as he struck gold with a twenty-five yard volley, a stand-out contender for goal of the season. When Nicky Southall fired home after the break the live table showed us floating in the dizzy heights of second, in the automatic spots for the first time this season. Life couldn´t get any better. I should have known better. 

But it wouldn´t be the same supporting Gillingham if you´re nerves, and sanity, weren´t tested on a regular basis.

We now sit in sixth, tied on points with third, and the prospect of a nervy couple of months in store.  

There are plenty of positives to cling on to. We are now seven games unbeaten, with a number of players starting to find form just at the right time. Simeon Jackson, our top goal-scorer, has started to find some form as well as the net again (albeit a tap-in and a penalty) after a recent dry patch, helped in no small part by Mark McCammon. Our big target man is finally fit and firing on all cylinders, causing havoc up front and creating chances for others to exploit. Veteran Nicky Southall seems to have found a new lease of life, with consistent performances that continue to defy the years. 

The worrying thing is promotion is vital if we are to hang on to the nucleus of our squad. Jackson was rumoured to have attracted interest from Villa during the transfer window after his screamer against them in the Cup, while this week Stimson stated his belief that he is destined for bigger things. Spurs loanee Andy Barcham has looked a class apart since his arrival, and would surely get an offer from elsewhere were we to remain in the bottom tier. Curtis Weston has been our driving force in midfield, and his goal on Saturday will certainly turn a few heads.  

Yet I would argue our prized asset is defender Simon King, whose tireless effort and hard graft have made sure we are still in a position to push for promotion. Clichéd it may sound, but he is quite literally our rock, proof of which can be found by what happens when he is not on the pitch. Pandemonium ensued at home to Aldershot when he was forced to withdraw with an injury, as we watched a 3-1 lead turn into a 3-4 deficit, while there was an air of inevitability about Saturday´s result after he hobbled off with the store at 2-1. 

However, let´s not get ahead of ourselves. Before discussing players´ futures we need to determine our own, but in a league as unpredictable as League Two we will surely have to wait some time before any conclusions can be drawn. We still face daunting away trips to the current top three, as well as tricky fixtures at Grimsby, who are in a real scrap for their football league status, and Chesterfield, who with games in hand are mounting a late charge for the play-offs.

Only three of our remaining nine fixtures are at home, one of which is against promotion rivals Bury. Anything could happen – an imperious run of form that sees us go straight up, or a nightmare run of results that means we finish nearer to mid-table. Our next three games, away to Notts County on Tuesday and Grimsby on Saturday, followed by a home game to Barnet stand out as our most winnable, so I am hoping for as many points as possible to have been banked by the time we travel to Brentford, with what is shaping up to be a huge away crowd.

This week a petition started by fans to bring back our kit from the turn of the millenium started to pick up pace. Smart and unique, certainly, but I think the affection for the kit lies in the nostalgia of how the Gills were doing at the time. The last time the Gills donned the blue and black stripes we were mixing it at the top of what was then Division Two, culminating in two successive play-off finals at Wembley, both of which would be hard to top for excitement and drama, be it the heartache of 1999 against Man City or the jubilation against Wigan in 2000. 

As we approach the home straight I can´t help but think we are destined for another rollercoaster ride in the lottery that is the football league play-offs. But then you can never be sure of anything with Gillingham. One thing is for sure, it will go right to the wire. Which is precisely why I have decided to fly home early for the last game of the season: Rochdale away on the second of May. I´ll see you all there. COYG! 

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