As they turned into 2005 the Vale had only won two games but they targeted three home games against strugglers, Sheffield, LSH and Middlesbrough.

These were duly won and it appeared that valuable breathing space had been achieved, even though some demanding fixtures remained. However, survival hopes all but disappeared when Middlesbrough won against eventual champions Preston Grasshoppers.

Boosted by this victory, Middlesbrough stitched together more wins to leave the Vale facing the prospect of winning their last three games. In the end the task was beyond the Vale who finished with five wins against Middlesbrough's seven.

The turning point of course was the out of the blue two pointer by Middlesbrough against 'Hoppers, which is why, when the news of Northwich's victory over second in North Two West, Stockport, on March 8 had such familiar overtones.

Now the Vale find themselves in an almost identical situation, three to play three to win and hoping their immediate rivals, Northwich, who are one point ahead of the Vale, drop points.

League action resumes on March 29, goodness only knows how coach Mark Sutcliffe, and other coaches whose clubs are involved in promotion or relegation issues, keep their players fully focussed, fit and primed for vitally important games after such a nonsensical break.

At the end of March the Vale host New Brighton, then believe or not there is another lay-off before a home fixture against Lymm on April 12. A week later, the Vale are at Sandbach to complete a trio of demanding fixtures at the best of times.

Northwich open with an away game at near neighbours Winnington Park, a fixture where there is a great deal of local pride at stake as was shown in the opening game when honours were shared in 16-16 draw.

For this confrontation think, City versus United, Rangers and Celtic, Everton and Liverpool, Barcelona against Real Madrid, all fixtures where the outcomes, can and do, defy logic.

Next up for Northwich is a home game against Rochdale and they finish at Leigh.

If the Vale and Northwich win all their games then the Vale will finish with 16 points and Northwich 17.

Lymm, who have only won one game since the turn of the year, could end up with 16 points should they lose their last three, but their points difference far outweights that of the Vale.

Life and sport is full of 'if onlys', but two results that went astray for the Vale of Lune could well come back to haunt them.

In the opening game of the season at New Brighton the Vale led 26-8 at half-time but in the closing minutes, the home side were allowed to grab possession and scuttle off for a converted try and close out the game at 27-26.

For their final home game of 2007 against Sandbach, with the score standing at 20-19 to Vale, everything went pear-shaped.

From their own line-out, the Vale failed to take the ball, and Sandbach danced their merry way downfield for a converted try and a 26-20 victory.

The closing three games are going to be a test of their character and their supporters will be hoping that they will complete the season, with a bang and not a whimper, and not the other way round as T S Elliot wrote in, "The Hollow Men."

It is possible that three wins might not be enough but to end the season in a blaze of glory with the band playing, whistles blowing, colours flying, chests out and all the deck chairs perfectly arranged, will be some compensation.

n Vale of Lune will be in action prior to the New Brighton showdown when they travel to Blackburn on Saturday for the Tony Hodgson memorial game.

Tony, a former Blackburn captain and highly respected player, made four appearances for the Vale's first team in the 1987-88.

He tragically died last year when out jogging.

On Easter Monday, Carnforth will be at Powder House Lane to defend the Andrew Crowe Memorial Shield against Vale's A team.

Carnforth's second team will be in action against the Vikings.