UP...BY HOOK OR BY CROOK
ONE minute you are wondering where your next game is coming from, the next you’re saving two penalties in a play-off final and eyeing another promotion.
Goalkeeper Peter Crook, on loan from Boston United, twice outfoxed ex-Accrington striker Billy Kee from 12 yards to seal glory for Peterborough Sports in Monday’s play-off final.
His stops ensured the Turbines earned a fourth promotion in five completed seasons under boss Jimmy Dean – a journey that has catapulted them from mid-table in United Counties League Division One.
Out of favour at Boston since the arrival of Sheffield United loanee Marcus Dewhurst, Crook was snapped up at the back end of March and boasts an unbeaten record from his stint at the Bee Arena.
He said: “I needed to get games. For whatever reason I was not getting them at Boston, I knew I was good enough to play week in week out and I am delighted Jimmy gave me the opportunity to.
Homework
“I have to go back to Boston now so you never know, it could be two promotions in one season.
If they make the play-offs I could be involved with the squad so it is really exciting.
“This just proves
I am good enough to do it at whatever level. Two penalty saves is just incredible really, but I am so delighted for the lads and the club as a whole. They really deserve this.”
A bit of homework, the nerve to dive the same way twice and staying alert to snaffle Kee’s scuffed rebound from the second spotkick proved key.
“I had seen a few clips and knew he went to the keeper’s right,” added
Crook. “The first was more down the middle and I managed to get a foot to it. With the second I wondered whether he would go down the other side but I stuck to my guns and it paid off.”
The success banishes memories of Crook’s past play-off experiences with
Harrogate Town in 2016 and Boston four years later, the man himself calling it “third time lucky”, but his delight centred around the club that has given him back his feelgood factor.
“Just look around and you can see what this means,” said Crook.
“Next season they will be playing the likes of Boston, York City and other big teams that have been in the Football League.
Knife-edge
“This club’s journey over the past few years is incredible and the people are just so humble.
“Jimmy is great to speak to and rings me pretty much every week, he asks my thoughts and wants to know how I am. I don’t think you get that at all clubs.
“He has been really accommodating, I am delighted for him and to have played a part.”
It has proved the perfect partnership but Dean revealed signing Crook had been a knife-edge decision.
When long-serving keeper Lewis Moat left due to work commitments at the end of November, Dean signed Paul White from St Ives but then opted to draft in Crook ahead of the registration deadline.
“It was a big call,” said Dean.
“Paul had not done a lot wrong but as a manager you have to go with your hunch. Paul was not happy and understandably so, I wouldn’t have been if I was him.
“Crooky looked nervy when he first came in but his stature soon stood out, his kicking is great. He has just got better and better and we have to thank Boston United, they did us a
really good turn.”