TO coin a phrase made famous by Humphrey Bogart, it was the stuff that dreams are made of.

When Cherries headed to Griffin Park in April 1995, the odds had been firmly stacked against them preserving their place in the third flight of English football.

Having started the campaign with seven successive defeats, Mel Machin’s men reached the halfway point marooned at the foot of Division Two and 11 points adrift of safety.

However, a dramatically-improved second half to the campaign ensured they would travel to west London for their penultimate game of the season still with a glimmer of hope.

The second-placed Bees were level on points with leaders Birmingham and boasted a 14-match unbeaten home record, which had included no fewer than 10 wins.

Cherries, meanwhile, were level on points with Cambridge United, although an inferior goal difference saw them occupy one of five relegation places ahead of kick-off.

Brentford’s blistering form at Griffin Park had seen them hand out heavy beatings to two of Cherries’ relegation rivals – Plymouth (7-0) and Cambridge (6-0).

Cherries ventured to the capital on the back of a dispiriting defeat at Swansea, although three wins in four prior to that had helped keep alive their chances.

Following a goal-less first half, Scott Mean’s stunning long-range strike gave Cherries the lead, only for Paul Abrahams to level for the hosts.

But 16 minutes from time, Steve Jones outstripped the Bees defence to fire home one of the most important goals in the club’s history.

Cherries’ 2-1 victory, coupled with Cambridge drawing 1-1 with Huddersfield, took the Machin Braves out of the bottom five for the first time that season.

And the original Great Escape was pulled off just three days later when a resounding 3-0 home win over Shrewsbury put Cherries safe.

Michael McElhatton made 27 appearances and scored two crucial goals during the campaign – a stunning injury-time equaliser during a 2-2 draw at Cambridge in January and the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Plymouth – the Pilgrims ultimately falling through the trapdoor along with Cambridge, Leyton Orient, Chester and Cardiff.

Looking back on the Great Escape season, McElhatton said: “It was the worst start we had ever had, there was a lot going on at the club, confidence was low among the players and there were a lot of injuries.

“It wasn’t the best time to be trying to come through as a young player because there was such a depression around the place. We were nervous and under pressure every time we went out for a game. It got to the stage where we virtually had to win every game to stay up. Mel kept telling us there was still a chance and he put a lot of belief in the lads.

“I remember the Plymouth game very well. It was windy and a horrible day. I went up for a corner and managed to force the ball home. It was mega important because they were one of our main rivals. I think we realised we could do it after that game.

“The Cambridge game was horrible as well. I scored with a header from about 20 yards in the last seconds and everyone jumped on me.

“I was involved more as a sub towards the end of the season which was disappointing from a personal point of view. But I was proud to be a part of it.”