KEARTON IS THE TOPS
The popular Aussie, widely considered to be the best goalie the Railwaymen have ever had, has played a key role in keeping Crewe`s heads just above water this season.
His achievement is all the more remarkable given the fact that only 10 keepers in England have topped the ton mark.
Walsall`s enigmatic Jimmy Walker has made just 11 fewer and is a virtual certainty to win the Player of the Year award at the Bescot Stadium after a string of top displays between the sticks.
Meanwhile, Chester City, in serious danger of dropping out of the Football League, might be down already had their agile custodian Wayne Brown not pulled off 128 stops. He`s the third most prolific shot-stopper in the country.
He`s followed by Notts County`s Darren Ward, widely tipped to replace Neil Sullivan at Wimbledon next season. Ward has saved 116 shots, with Crystal Palace veteran Fraser Digby (109) and Sheffield United`s Simon Tracey (107) not too far behind.
Only one Premiership keeper tops the 100 mark: Middlesbrough`s Mark Schwarzer. But with Boro just four points off the drop zone, he may well have to make many more by the time the season ends.
The three other goalkeepers to pull off more than a century of stops are: Oldham`s Gary Kelly (104), Cardiff`s John Hallworth (102) and Wrexham`s Kevin Dearden (101).
Gary Taphouse
