GoalkeeperĀ Jos Barker was “buzzing” after making a string of crucial saves to help Yeovil Town to a 2-1 win at Barrow on Friday night.
The 22-year-old, who stepped up two tiers of the football pyramid when he joined from Walton & Hersham in the summer, pulled off a stunning fingertip save just seconds deep in to second half stoppage time in Cumbria.
But, speaking exclusively toĀ Gloverscast Ben after the match, he said he felt his effort to keep out the hosts’ Kennedy Digie’s header after just ten minutes was better.
The keeper said: “I thought I made a save in the first ten minutes of the game which I thought was a better save! But because it was in injury time at the end of the game everyone was buzzing for it, even Brett (McGavin) who is probably the biggest keeper hater in the world – but he came up to me and said ‘what a save’! That is the first time I have heard that from him.
“It is just instinct, I was not sure if I should come out and press the ball to put him off the shot, but then there is the risk of not getting it. My old coach always told me to stand and be hard to be beat and that is what I did and managed to get my fingers to it.”
The victory came courtesy of a Joe Gubbins header four minutes in to second half stoppage time and means the Glovers remain unbeaten with four matches of the National League season completed. Barker said the spirit in the team has surpassed even his best expectations.
He added: “The way we have connected as a group is better than I ever thought it would happen, the character we showed in that game is unreal, everyone is buzzing. It was a man for man game, you know what you were going to get with their press and their energy was unbelievable which makes the game harder as a goalkeeper in terms of distribution and finding the right pass because you know whoever you are passing to has a man right behind them.
“The first half was not amazing, but I think we combated it well in the second half and brought on some much energy in the likes of James Daly on the wing and we just matched them and came out on top.”