TEENAGE hero John McAliskey is hunting more glory goals after his "dream" debut double kept Town bang on track for promotion.
The 19-year-old striker - who walked back into town afterwards to catch the bus home! - scored twice in the final five minutes to clinch Saturday's dramatic 3-2 comeback win against Scunthorpe United at an emotional McAlpine.
Despite Town finishing with nine men for the THIRD time this season - Efe Sodje and Danny Schofield were sent-off - they stayed third in the table as McAliskey's headers built on a David Mirfin strike to delight the home contingent in a bumper crowd of 12,108.
"It was a dream for me, absolutely amazing," said McAliskey, who plays with a pin in his back after stress fractures a couple of years ago.
"The crowd were brilliant, it was a great atmosphere and when I scored the winner, I've never heard noise like it. I knew I shouldn't jump into the crowd but I just thought `stuff it, I'm off' and it was fantastic."
Mac the Knife, who now has three goals in four appearances, was booked for his celebration (so too was Schofield to earn a second yellow card), but it didn't take the edge off a third straight home victory.
"I could see my mum in the crowd looking really proud, so I gave her a wave, and there were about 25 family and friends down to watch - it was Quid a Kid!" he joked.
"I couldn't believe it, really, and the gaffer was chuffed. He told me there was no pressure and it gave me a lot of confidence that he had faith in me.
"I didn't sleep much on either Friday night or Saturday and was nervous before the game, but once I got a touch I was fine and I enjoyed it."
McAliskey seems certain to partner Andy Booth up front at Northampton tomorrow night, where a win at the Sixfields Stadium (7.45) would guarantee Town a play-off place.
Schofield and Sodje will be suspended when Town play Mansfield at the McAlpine in a fortnight.
Coach Terry Yorath - sent off at half time for foul and abusive language to the referee - will have to wait to see if there is any further punishment from the FA.
McAliskey, meanwhile, is keen to stay involved and to follow in the Premiership footsteps of Jon Stead.
"I'd love to get some more goals for Town and I can't wait for tomorrow night and to see if I get another chance," he said.
"Scoring those goals has given me a lot of confidence and it's hard to explain how it all felt. I went berserk and the crowd went beserk.
"I've been compared with Steady a lot and I played alongside him in the Academy - he was a third year when I was a first - and I learned a lot from him back then.
"If I can go on to the Premier League at some stage then that will be great, but my first aim is to try and help us clinch this promotion and get back up into the Second Division.
"I've been working hard and I want to play as much as I can. I know Steady did a lot of work in the gym last summer to strengthen himself up and the gaffer wants me to do the same. He wants me to build up by upper body strength.
"I just want to do as well as I can in the game, give 110% every time and to make a name for myself."
Saturday wasn't a bad start!
Tomorrow's trip to the Sixfields is re-arranged from March 20 when advertising hoardings blew from a stand roof and into the Town fans. Northampton were leading 1-0 at the time and have since continued a storming run towards the play-offs.
