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Stanley's keeper capers

Why so many keepers, wonders Accrington blogger Lee Walker?

Posted: 24th November 2009 16:41

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Stanley's keeper capers

Dunbavin: Stanley's only stopper

This constant worrying about injuries to our keeper inspired me to have a look at the record books, and what I found was quite amazing to say the least. Since our promotion to the Blue Square Premier (or Conference as it was then) in the 2003-2004 season we have had... wait for it... 19 goalkeepers!

Accrington blogger Lee Walker
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Well here we are, almost in December and still in touch with the play-off's (just) and in the semi-final of a cup competition against the mighty Leeds United, who according to my calculations when they reached the semi-final of the European Cup where ranked around 200 places higher than us in the football pyramid. (At the time we where in the mighty Unibond First Division for anybody that cares). How times have changed, and I still need to pinch myself now and again that we could be in with a chance of reaching Wembley!

Following my last blog, my constant praise of the team was left wanting when quite unbelievably Dagenham walked away from the mighty Crown Ground with all three points following a 0-1 victory. After around 20 years watching football at all levels, it could have been THE worst game I've ever seen.

They had three chances and scored one with a wickedly-deflected header; we had three hitting the bar once... and that was it! The Dagenham keeper Tony Roberts was once again up to his usual wind-up antics, which has gone on between him and our fans for years, but yet again he had the last laugh with a point-blank save denying boy wonder Bobby Grant another goal.

Quite how Dagenham and Rochdale are top of the table is beyond me. Yes, they defend well, but seem to snatch a goal and shut up shop, which is very annoying to say the least! We need to learn to break sides down who stick 10 men behind the ball after taking the lead. To be fair to the team they did look shattered during the Dagenham game, which isnt surprising.

The most worrying thing in the Dagenham game was our keeper Ian Dunbavin getting clattered in the first minute by Dagenham's star man Paul Benson (who did look a good player, to be fair). As I previously mentioned our continuing transfer embargo means that we are unable to sign anybody until at least the opening of the transfer window in January.

This continues to be a massive worry for myself, as not only do we only have around 19 players in total, but we only have one senior shot-stopper in Dunbavin. His deputy is 17-year-old academy player Joshua Molloy! Fingers crossed we don't lose Dunbavin to injury or it could get really interesting between the sticks at our club.

Embargo

This constant worrying about injuries to our keeper inspired me to have a look at the record books, and what I found was quite amazing to say the least. Since our promotion to the Blue Square Premier (or Conference as it was then) in the 2003-2004 season we have had... wait for it... 19 goalkeepers!

Either on loan, permanent signings or youngsters sat on the bench! Surely that must be some kind of record? I'll have to ring the old Guinness Book of Records up I think, if I get chance. Needless to say I think it is a bit of a jinxed position at our club with around 10 of those keepers having serious injuries at some point.

Hopefully the second the embargo is lifted come January time we can bring in another one. I see Charlton Athletic are looking to offload Darren Randolph either on loan or permanently. Hopefully we can snatch him for the rest of the season on loan at least, as when he was last at our club (again on loan in the Conference-winning season) he became almost a cult hero along with current Charlton number one, Robbie Elliott.

Last Saturday's away draw at Bradford was somewhat fortunate with a missed last-minute penalty for the opposition as well as a post being struck in the 91st minute. Another great goal from Super Michael Symes however, and I was happy with a point.

Next up its two glamour games at home to Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night, and the FA Cup second round a mouthwatering clash against Barnet. Three points against Macclesfield and a nice passage into the third round of the cup (along with the £36,000 prize money) will do me nicely. Third-round glamour tie here we come... if only football was that simple!

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