Easter Monday and what could be the defining day of the season. Leicester v Leeds, MK Dons v Bristol Rovers and Millwall v Peterborough. These three games could settle the season for us - wins for us, Bristol and Millwall and we would be promoted and have one hand on the title too. Leeds though are no mugs and games between us and the dirty ones from up north.
Leeds had been on great form in the time approaching this game so nerves were there... and we were also a bit concerned as to what the state of the pitch would be like after the egg chasers had run riot on it a couple of days earlier.
The first chance of the game though fell to Lloyd Dyer after good work from Big Steve but his angled drive was deflected wide by Sodje. Next it was the turn of Maxi Gradel to try his luck as he hit an optimistic shot from 25 yards which skidded off the turf and nearly crept inside the post but for a smart save from the visitoring keeper, Ankergren.
On 16 minutes, Leeds created their first chance when a smart turn and shot from Becchio crashed into the side netting although Stockdale looked to have it covered. This was turning into a quality match as the pressure continued and Ankergren had to be alert to keep out a King header... all this with less than 20 minutes gone.
A corner from Leeds came closest to breaking the deadline as the inswinging effort was punched onto his own crossbar by Stockdale with the ball being hacked away by Gradel on the line.
Leeds came close from a corner again as the second half started in the same fashion. A deep effort was swung in and Stockdale had to get down quickly to keep out Snodgrass's powerful header.
Ankergren once again kept his side in it as some neat build up play ended with King being fed the ball on the edge of the box but his curling effort was tipped wide of the post with the fans expecting the net to bulge.
On 69 minutes, Leeds had a great chance to take the lead as Delph found himself in acres of space but fired in a weak effort that hardly troubled Stockdale. City responded in the best possible way though and a neat one two unleashed King on the left whose precision ball into the box found Fryatt in space but he couldn't get his shot in quick enough with any power and Ankergren once again managed to keep the scores down. With ten minutes to go, the game picked up another gear and Robinson twisted and turned on the edge of the area before forcing Stockdale into a great save with a shot that seemed destined for the top corner.
As the game edged towards stoppage time, Andy King headed just wide for a corner but as we entered into the 91st minute, the moment that could have solved the season in one swift movement. Gradel swung another corner in and almost as in slow motion, Howard appeared from nowhere and unleashed a bullet header that rocketed into the top corner. The celebrations were something that I haven't experienced at a home game for many years as I jumped up, hugging everyone around me and celebrating like we had just won the league... and in many respects, we had just taken one major step to doing that.
It meant so much to everyone, fans and players alike. 
With no time to respond, the referee blew for full time and a famous three points were ensuring that we edged 7 points clear of second place with only three games to play. With MK Dons kicking off later, we could be promoted that day if they dropped points in their game with Bristol so some of the Foxestalk lot headed over to the Dry Dock to watch Jeff Stelling on sky sports to make sure that if we were to go up that day, we would do it together. As we met outside, Alex was understandably excited and did a promotion dance to rival any other.
In the pub, we found a space and the bunch of us enjoyed some good laughs as the scores came in looking at photos from previous away days.
It wasn't to be though and MK Dons took the game 2-1 meaning it would go on to the Southend game at the weekend, which in many ways was what we wanted. If you're going to win promotion, you want to do it off your own back rather than waiting on others to lose games and so we would head off to Southend on saturday knowing that three points would give us promotion and the league title. Magic.
As we left the pub at the final whistle, it seemed hard to believe that we were so close to promotion and as we looked out over the Walkers Stadium, scene to a classic encounter with Leeds only hours earlier, we knew we had witnessed a magical season full of so many highs.
And so only three games were remaining of the season and we need only three points to get that magical "C" next to our name.... only 12 months on from that dreaded game against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. How far we had come in such a small space of time. From heartbreak to the brink of elation. There's only one Nigel Pearson! 
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