EXPECTATION levels had been rising all week and, while the team didn't quite match those high hopes on the pitch, the fans still managed to have a good day out.

The usual crew were there, Wiggy and his mates, plus a whole host of others. And they were boosted by a bumper crowd that gave the game a real cup-tie atmosphere.

It was a heartwarming sight to see the streets around Gigg Lane crammed with parked cars and a healthy flow of folk heading towards the ground.

It all added to a sense of occasion -- and led to one or two misunderstandings.

"Do they always get this many?" enquired one visiting journalist. "No mate," replied one wag in the crowd. "It's usually just one man and his dog -- and sometimes even the dog doesn't turn up!"

In actual fact, the bumper crowd of 2,495 was more than ten times the Boro's average gate at Stainton Park, and while most of them won't see Boro again until the next cup run, manager Kevin Glendon was hopeful that one or two might have seen enough to tempt them back for more.

It's common knowledge that chairman Bernard Manning Junior is trying to sell the club and the media exposure they received from Sky TV and the rest will do them no harm in that respect.

And while neighbours Bury were getting excited about the visit of Norwegian multi-millionaire Atle Brynestad, the Boro had a couple of Norwegians watching them too.

Thomas Hauce and Oyvind Werrum, from Oslo, have no plans to buy the Boro, as far as we know, but they, as well as everyone else, enjoyed a great day out.