THE final whistle at Gigg Lane on Saturday (Feb 23) sparked a "friendly" pitch invasion and signified the club was still alive and kicking.

More than 4,200 spectators, 700 above the season's average, showed the town DID care about its football team, although it did not reach a target turnout of 5,000.

The club faces a crunch High Court hearing on March 4 when creditors will seek repayment of more than £1.3M.

But the chants of optimism overwhelmed the purveyors of doom and gloom as negative talk was banished, as was a mock coffin which had been barred entry to the ground.

And a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth put a temporary smile back on the faces of the club's devoted followers.

Two gatemen donated their day's pay back to the club and a Save Our Shakers bucket coined in £1,853. The winner of the £700 half-time draw also handed back £200 to the survival fund.

Seventy-one-year-old fan Beau, whose consortium has emerged as the most likely saviour, was there to witness the show of grit and determination both on and off the field.