Goalkeeper Jed Ward was the happiest man inside Huish Park as he collected his 11th clean sheet of the season in the goalless draw at home to FC Halifax Town.
The on loan Bristol Rovers man pulled off a number of the type of excellent saves which have become his trademark in a season which has seen him nailed on for the Player of the Season prize.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah after the game, the 22-year-old said: “Goalkeepers are judged on keeping clean sheets and that is 11 in the league which is amazing by my standards, so I’m really happy with that and I just want to keep that for the next two games as well.
“I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve found got myself into a really good form this season especially off the back of last season. I’ve loved playing in front of the fans, they’ve been brilliant, the staff, everyone around the place has been brilliant with me, so I have really enjoyed it.”
No questions around his future of the keeper who is under contract at Bristol Rovers until the summer of 2028, and is a player who Glovers’ fans would love to see back at Huish Park next season.
The match against FC Halifax Town is not one which will live long in the memories of anyone attending with two sides cancelling each other out. Yeovil suffered an knock before kick-off when defender Kyle Ferguson pulled up with an injury and had to be replaced in the starting XI by Harvey Greenslade with Finn Cousin-Dawson dropping back in to defence.
Ward said: “It was a tough game. They’re fighting to get into the playoffs which means it’s a big game for them, but I think we played some really good stuff today. It is definitely something that we, well, the lads, can look positively at going in to next season, playing that style of football, creating loads of chances.”
On the late change in defence, he added: “I think that goes down to the gaffer giving really good detail on what he wants from his players, I think anyone can slot into that. You’ve seen Dan (Ellison) come back from his loan and he’s done really well in the past two games, that is because he is a good lad and he’s willing to absorb information, he’s come in and done really well.”
There was one moment which got Ward’s pulse racing with three minutes of normal time remaining as Halifax’s Jay Turner-Cooke spotted him off his line and tried an audacious effort which skimmed the crossbar.
Ward said: “I saw it late which probably made it look better than it was, but I was just happy to make the save and keep us in the game at that moment. It definitely took me by surprise, especially that wind today. He’s caught it really well and it’s just traveled and kept going, so it’s a great strike from the lad and I was lucky that the crossbar was there.”