WHOEVER started the premature promotion party behind Phil Smith's goal is firmly off the goalkeeper's Christmas card list (and mine) after a bizarre end to a blown opportunity.

With Town trailing 1-0 against Bristol Rovers a section of the visiting fans erupted in celebration.

It spread rapidly as Tommy Mooney's name was boomed out.

Surely, it could only mean Wycombe Wanderers had scored against MK Dons right?

The laptop computer stubbornly refused to acknowledge the goal and then had the cheek to suddenly vomit two goals for Martin Allen's men.

The final whistle brought a sickening realisation that hopes had been cruelly raised, only to be then dashed, but the players themselves have to take a huge chunk of responsibility for teeing up a stomach-churning final day of the campaign.

Paul Sturrock was bang on when he wagged the accusing finger in the direction of too many individuals in slippers rather than football boots.

Promotion was there to be grabbed at the Memorial Stadium but a miserable first half showing proved so costly.

Town badly missed Barry Corr in attack, a serious back injury looks to have put paid to his season, with the visitors failing to put their hosts under any real pressure.

Steve Phillips flew to his right to deny Michael Pook in first half stoppage time with the Town midfielder then thumping a firm strike just too high 10 minutes from time.

But the man who should have started the promotion party in Wiltshire was Christian Roberts.

Fourteen minutes from time, the former Bristol City man who had been jeered throughout, skipped past three challenges, motored into the box and suddenly the equaliser beckoned.

Sadly, he took far, far too long to pull the trigger and his desire to walk the ball into the net allowed Rovers' Stuart Campbell to make a crucial block.

Somehow, the derby scrap we had all been anticipating never materialised.

Town's first-half display was hardly a case of grabbing promotion by the throat.

It all seemed rather tentative with the home side seizing the initiative from the first whistle. It was to prove disastrous.

Lambert almost provided Rovers with the perfect start, controlling Disley's flick on before lashing a shot narrowly wide of the right post.

Blair Sturrock bobbled an effort wide at the other end before Sofi Zaaboub thudded a miserable free-kick straight into the Rovers wall on 25 minutes.

Lambert crashed in the only goal of the game two minutes later, a glorious strike that flashed past Smith into the top corner.

The Town keeper said: "We were warned he'd shoot if he faced goal.

"It's a decent strike, it had to be to beat me from there.

"It's frustrating that that's what we've lost the game to. Apart from that they've not really troubled us at all. It's just a case of picking ourselves up, it's still in our own hands.

"We'll be at home. I should think we'll have a big support so we've just got to go and get the three points."

But as the Rovers match ticked towards its climax, Smith suddenly thought a 1-0 defeat was largely irrelevant.

He said: "I thought it was 1-0 to Wycombe to be honest with you.

"I don't know whether a few of the other lads thought that as well and maybe last five minutes we've run out of ideas, run out of energy or maybe thought we'd done enough but I thought it had gone for us.

"They were shouting Tommy Mooney's name and I thought he must have scored.

"As far as I was concerned I thought Wycombe had won for us so that was a bit of gutter when I found out they'd (MK Dons) won 2-0.

"Yeah, Saturday will be a hell of a game but a great game for us because if we get the points it will be amazing."

No sooner had Smith plucked the ball out of his net, man of the match Jerel Ifil went close to restoring parity at the other end.

Sadly the defender's close-range strike struck Ryan Green and looped just over the top.

Green then thumped goalwards at the other end, Smith tipping the ball round the right post while Phillips thwarted Pook in first half stoppage time.

Town started the second period much brighter than the first with a Jutkiewicz volley deflecting just wide on 51 minutes.

Smith raced out to halt Disley's charge into the area before Town boss Sturrock decided to push Michael Timlin and Ashley Grimes into the fray, Jutkiewicz and Blair Sturrock making way.

Roberts and Pook both had chances to make matters at Adams Park an irrelevance but as the final whistle blew there was only one set of fans in party mode.

The visiting fans drifted away in disappointment and having told their hosts to politely go and play at Cheltenham' as well as voicing the view you're not fit to share our ground' they will be hoping that the two clubs' paths do not cross again in the not-too-distant future, ie May.

One last chance remains for Town to get across the finishing line.

The County Ground is going to be an interesting place to be on Saturday.

Two outcomes on the table, elation or despair.

Time to dig out the lucky pants, lucky scarf and lucky everything.

Anyone else feeling sick with nerves and it's only Monday?

Hopefully we can all get a grip and see it through.