THE roller coaster that is the 2014-15 season continues to provide so many ups and downs.

Tuesday evening versus Woking was a tremendous up, but Saturday’s trophy game against Didcot, although entertaining at times was, in terms of the result a massive down.

With a visit to high-flying Grimsby on Friday night, a venue where you have to defeat both team and crowd, a replay was the last thing Rovers needed. One should not have been necessary.

Two sublime goals put 10-man Rovers in a comfortable position and an earnest Didcot side looked well beaten. However in the last 20 minutes the left-side of Rovers’ defence collapsed. Two crosses from the right led to goals and two more right sided attacks could have led to goals.

If you were not at the game watch the highlights. The evidence is clear.

Rovers’ fans quite rightly praise Marcus Kelly. He is a fine creative player as Saturday showed. He is however a very good left back. To play him in midfield would mean leaving out either Frear, Sinclair, Wedgebury or Norwood, good players all. On the evidence of Saturday it is quite clear he is needed at left-back, and for the moment must play there. His ability and professionalism are such that of course he can play in both positions, but it is in defence he is currently needed.

The other scorer on Saturday was Jon Parkin. He has the ability to produce stunning volleys and also make defence splitting passes, yet at times can seem slow and clumsy.

To misquote a nursery rhyme, “When he is good he is very good, but when he is bad he is horrid.” Whatever we think of him we must remember he is scoring goals. Keep going Jon.

Someone who needs to start going is Magno Vieira. He is enjoying a long, lucrative contract at The New Lawn and so far has not justified it. He had the chance to do something on Saturday, coming on with half an hour to go. He did not take it. On one occasion he had almost a free header that could have resulted in the winner. His challenge was minimal.

He is certainly entitled to stay and draw his salary. Give me Matty Taylor, Reece Styche or Danny Wright any day.

Praise for captain Pipe and goalkeeper Russell on Saturday. They stayed on the field to congratulate the Didcot players, shaking hands with each of them. They are genuine football men and in every way an asset to the club.

Sam showed his worth in the win over Woking. With the strong wind causing the ball to swirl in the air and with the surface wet and skiddy he was again Mr Reliable.

The game was in no way a classic, but what a wonderful win it was. Woking are one of the teams we have to overtake and to send them away pointless was a fine team achievement. There were no stars just evidence of the spirit and effort we have all been looking for, with Elliott Frear proving how valuable he is to the side.

Tuesday evening was the first time I have ever been hugged by a football manager. At the final whistle manager Ady bounded “Tigger” like to the press box. We all received a joyful embrace. Ady knew his team needed to prove themselves and they had done just that. Reading the league table next morning it was clear evidence how vital that win was.

There were so many other reasons for enjoying Tuesday. The 125th anniversary match brought so many old faces to the ground, all of them proud and happy to be here and rightly so. A football club is so much more than Saturday football.

Teams, individuals, successes, cups, comradeship, hopes and dreams all contribute at Forest Green especially so.

I brought with me a veteran Weymouth supporter, battle scarred by following them home and away for over 50 years. He found so much to admire, starting with the car-parking and ticket office, then the stadium itself.

The club is getting things right and I believe thanks to Dane Vince for his stadium efforts are needed. The ambassador’s scheme and the atmosphere and ambience of the Carol Embrey Suite blew him away. We have so much to be proud of at the top of the hill.

Saturday’s referee will be feeling anything but pride. In one dreadful spell of about five minutes he made two wretched decisions.

He sent off Clovis Kamdjo when a yellow card would have sufficed, then failed to send off Luke Oliver who gave away a stonewall penalty that was not given. Credit to both teams for keeping their composure in the face of two dreadful decisions. Now we travel to Didcot, remembering a great journey can often start with a small stumble.