Goalkeeping comedy adds entertainment
WHAT a great week for County and what a week for comedy goalkeepers. Another two wins have put us right back in the mix for a play-off place.
Boston and Leamington were both brushed aside without conceding a goal – brilliant.
The Boston game will go down in County myth for one reason alone, the antics of the Pilgrims keeper, Jon Stewart.
He began to waste time from the very first minute, first feigning a head injury, then a problem with his shoulder and all the while nursing a bad leg.
Falling on the ball at every opportunity, meticulously placing the ball on the exact spot for any free kicks; it was obvious that their game plan was to “earn” a 0-0 draw.
However when Matty Warburton struck the only goal of the game Mr Stewart suddenly made a miraculous recovery, sprinting all over the pitch like Usain Bolt to immense derision from three sides of the ground. The game wasn’t a great advert for this division but at least we won and deservedly so.
The second keeper to delight the EP faithful was Jose Veiga, a loanee brought in to replace their regular shot stopper, Tony Breeden (another comedy legend) who was sent off last weekend after the final whistle for berating a referee!
Jose looked like a fish out of water from the very first shot on target, which he let in as early as the second minute from a Jimmy Ball near post shot and 10 minutes later when Rhys Turner had doubled our lead with a great left foot strike, Jose wanted the ground to open up and swallow him.
He couldn’t reach the halfway line with any of his kicks, he had trouble catching the ball from any number of Duxbury or Thomas crosses and when Jimmy Ball scored the third from 30 yards it was obvious that as a shot stopper he was as much use as a chocolate fire guard. Scott Duxbury’s tap in only confounded Leamington’s day but sent us all home extremely happy.
The other results went our way as well, just as we’re winning all our rivals lost points. Chorley, Southport, Blyth and Kidderminster especially Kidderminster 4-0 up in the 81st minute only to end up 4-4, that must surely knock their confidence?
County though, just keep marching on, three wins on the trot and, it has to be said, more winnable games to come. Bradford PA, who seem to be in free fall, Tamworth, who can’t buy a win and already relegated North Ferriby must be seen as nine points.
So come on County, we’re on the up.