Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?

It was a case of job well done by Colchester United on Sunday afternoon. Mission accomplished.

The fact they stayed up was an outstanding achievement - and the manner in which they achieved it exceptional.

Make no mistake; this was no fluke or stroke of luck.

The U’s may have escaped by the skin of their teeth but they showed guts, heart, desire, commitment and character in abundance.

Without question, they deserved their precious points and should be given so much credit for the way they handled the pressure and tension.

It was palpable and, at times, unbearable.

And the scenes that greeted the final whistle were something I’ll never forget.

All around us in the press box were scenes of overwhelming relief and unbridled joy.

It was a collective outpouring of raw emotion and, being so close to the pitch, we could clearly see the jubilation etched on fans’ faces.

I’ve watched hundreds of football matches in the last three decades but can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like it.

Now I hope two things happen.

First, in the short-term, I’d love to see Preston gain promotion via the play-offs and a Wembley final.

Their fans were excellent and made a big contribution to the electric atmosphere.

Second, that Colchester learn and build from this experience, so none of us need to go through the ringer again next season.

I hope what’s happened galvanises the club and, from a fans’ perspective, establishes more of a connection between the players and supporters.

We all know attendances aren’t great at the stadium and, consequently, the atmosphere can be somewhat lacking.

But while it can’t be like this every week – I don’t think any of us would cope if it were – it would be great to see the ground rocking on a regular basis.

It’s a two-way thing, of course. The players and supporters need to lift each other.

But the weekend showed what can be achieved when that happens and hopefully this kind of passion and atmosphere – both on and off the pitch - won’t just be reserved for such dramatic, monumental occasions.