FOOTBALL has the most wonderful, remarkable habit of conjuring up stories.

It’s raw, unscripted drama, of course, which is a fundamental part of the sport’s appeal.

But every now and again, something happens that makes you wonder if the stars were aligned. As though it were destined to happen.

You know what I mean.

A young player scoring on his debut, a player notching on his long-awaited return from injury or a player netting against his former club.

Or, in the case of Ipswich Town skipper Luke Chambers, grabbing a dramatic, last-ditch equaliser seven days after making his costly mistake against Sunderland.

Talk about redemption; the emotional rollercoaster running at breakneck speed.

From villain to hero, Chambers’ mood could barely have been more contrasting on the two weekends.

Last Saturday, he must have wanted the ground to swallow him up, having made the blunder that led to Lynden Gooch’s equaliser for the Black Cats.

It was an awful, ugly moment and for those of us who like the big man, and appreciate his undeniable qualities and leadership skills, excruciating to watch.

Some of the criticism that followed throughout the week, suggesting he’s finished, should be unceremoniously dropped and put out to graze, was equally unpalatable.

Criticism is fair, to a point.

These guys are professionals. People pay to watch them and are entitled to opinions, if they’re considered and constructive.

I wrote a piece myself the other day questioning Chambers’ form and reflecting on the costly, unforced errors that blighted last term’s dismal Championship campaign.

Some of the stuff I’ve read this week has been over-the-top and disrespectful, though, which is why I was so pleased when he popped up with his last-gasp leveller on Saturday.

It salvaged a point and one I was happy with.

After scoring so early and missing a penalty, you wonder what might have been. Was it two points dropped?

However, I’d rather think of it as one rescued and another safely tucked in the back pocket.

It’s a result that keeps the unbeaten league record intact and tees things up nicely heading into tomorrow’s home match against AFC Wimbledon.

Five points from three games is a satisfactory return, given the tricky start, an elongated injury list and the fact Town are still adjusting and acclimatising to life in League One.

And hopefully it will become eight points from four matches tomorrow night.

Talking of which, Kane Vincent-Young could be set for his first involvement after being with the squad at London Road (no doubt catching up with the former Colchester United team-mate Frankie Kent, who, incidentally, conceded the penalty after clipping Kayden Jackson’s heels).

Fitness-permitting, he might feature against the Dons and, from what I’ve seen and been told by my colleague who covers the U’s, this is an excellent, exciting signing for Town.

He’s predominantly been used on the left during his time at Colchester, partly due to the consistent form of right-back Ryan Jackson.

But Lambert seems to consider him more of a right-back, judging by his comments last week, with Janoi Donacien perhaps better suited to a central role, pushing the likes of Chambers, Luke Woolfenden and James Wilson.

It’s food for thought and a welcome conundrum; pleasing to make a quality addition and one that provides more strength in depth.