I HAVE it on good authority that when the final whistle blew on the victory over Notts County the noise was so great that several elderly residents of Middleport and Cobridge were jolted out of their chairs.

Such was the euphoria at the result that a couple of dozen supporters invaded the pitch to hug their heroes.

While I don't, for a second, condone the actions of this small minority of fans, I can understand their emotions.

Before kick-off, few pundits gave Vale a prayer against the most expensive and consistent team in League Two.

But by the end of the game our lads had, quite literally, fought to the point of exhaustion and hung on for a truly momentous victory.

What pleased me most wasn't the fact we had beaten a team who were top of the table and had gone 17 games unbeaten.

It wasn't even the fact we had sneaked into the play-offs zone.

No, what pleased me most was the attitude of home fans.

Granted, County brought a decent following – although nowhere near the number of fans we would have taken to their place if we were top of the league.

A gate of nigh on 7,500 experienced arguably the best feeling at a Vale home game since the good old days under he of the flat cap.

Virtually to a man they sung and clapped and cheered the lads for 96 minutes.

They didn't get on the backs of players who made a poor pass, mis-controlled the ball or fluffed a chance to score.

Instead, they sung even louder and urged the team on to even greater heroics.

Our fans did this because they can forgive most things when the work ethic and pride in the shirt is so visible.

When County were on top for 20 minutes in the second half , Vale's naïveté threatened to undo all their good work.

At that crucial time it was the supporters who urged them to push on, roaring every tackle, header and clearance.

We've heard so much lately about "Fortress Britannia" and the loudest fans in the country residing just down the A500.

Well last Saturday Vale supporters – so derided and humbled in recent years – produced a performance just as spirited and passionate as the 11 players on the field. Sometimes it's great to be a Vale fan.