THE party started at 9.37pm on a marvellous, miraculous McAlpine night.

And it's likely to go on and on and on - at least until a Bank Holiday Monday afternoon deep in south Wales.

Town are on their way to Cardiff's magnificent Millennium Stadium - and 20,000-plus fans will be going with them.

Town, of course, in typical fashion made sure the party started with a whimper and not a bang. Two goals down to a rampant Lincoln side at half-time and the talk was of another season in Division Three, one match too far and Peterborough all over again.

But Jacko's half-time talk had the team - and the fans - fired up and it turned into the most dramatic night ever at the Mac.

Young and old, male and female, active and less so, danced and chanted and sang as the boys in blue and white battled back to draw level - then take a nailbiting lead seven minutes from time with a wonder strike from Rob Edwards.

All the tension, all the fears, all the doubts that had filled the blue and white sides of the stadium during the lacklustre first half vanished and there was joy in the air.

The final whistle brought the predictable pitch invasion. It was several minutes before the players could return to the pitch to share in the celebrations.

There were some ugly scenes outside the stadium as hooligans from both sides clashed, but a huge police presence restored order.

And a cacophony of sound from the car horns and the air horns and any voices that had not been made hoarse continued long into the night.

Many fans could scarcely believe it.

Ray Bradley, of Rastrick, a fan for 12 years, summed it up: "Absolutely fantastic. I was very worried at half-time but that second half performance was the best I have seen Town play."

Geoff Moss, blue and white scarf draped proudly around his 75-year- old shoulders, is already planning his trip to Cardiff.

"I've been a fan since 1943 and there's no way I'm going to miss that one", he said.

Andrew Wood, of Holmfirth, watched his first Town game on his eighth birthday back in 1968, when the team was in the old Second Division.

"Tonight was just wonderful. I'm emotionally drained. They talk about a game of two halves. Town's sceond-half football was brilliant. And what an unbelievable atmosphere."

Max Simpson, of Shelley, and Felix Lee, from Kirkburton - both 13 - could hardly speak after shouting themselves hoarse during the last 45 minutes of the dramatic game.

Max said: "I just can't believe it, it was excellent. And I'm definitely off to Cardiff."

Not so Felix. He's on a family holiday in Minorca on Spring Bank Monday - but will be glued to satellite TV in the sun.

"No way am I going to miss that. Tonight was why they give you edges on your seats, but what a fightback," he said.

Fans young and old laughed and danced their way from the stadium, still marvelling at Town's comeback heroics.

Joyce Stott, of Holmfirth, has watched the club for only 18 months - taking up a job as a soccer fan in her retirement!

"It's absolutely wonderful. At half-time I have to admit I was dubious. But the way they came back was brilliant."

Youngsters chattered excitedly about the trip to Cardiff as they filed away.

And there was an extra smile on the face of the flagseller in Stadium Way - tempting fate before kick-off with his huge flags bearing the legend Blue Army March on Cardiff.

Fans snapped them up on the way out.

And there was the party feeling that not even the prospect of work hours later could dent. Alan Sykes, of Lindley, was almost poetic.

"I've followed Town for years and dreamed of nights like this.

"I've seen the good, the bad and the absolutely awful - often in the same game.

"But now it doesn't matter. We've got a club and a team worth celebrating," he said.