Praise for Weaver’s penalty save heroics

TWO-goal match-winner Callum Ebanks may have dominated the headlines after helping his side to a thrilling 3-3 draw with league leaders Kettering Town on Saturday but for Stratford Town’s caretaker boss Paul Davis, it was the man at the other end of the pitch who stole the show.

Keeper Jake Weaver saved a first half penalty having also kept out a spot kick in the Boxing Day victory at Alvechurch and his performances over those two matches earned him special praise from the manager.

The Bards were already trailing to an early goal when defender Fin Brennan was given his marching orders and Kettering were awarded a penalty.

Davis said: “When Fin gets sent off they have a penalty and if they make it 2-0 then it’s game over but he stands up. Personally I think if you are taking a penalty you should score - 12 yards out against a goalkeeper. As a keeper you have to be brave, stand up and wait and he has been brilliant at it.

“He has been absolutely tremendous over the last couple of games and walks off the pitch so calmly as if he’s just been for a walk in the park with his kids.

“He’s made more saves in the past two games than in the previous ten so you can see how good he is.

“We took our goals really well but the backfour and the goalkeeper need a special mention. When you are up against it with your backs to the wall, they have to stand up and be counted and they've done that.

“I’ve said for a long time that the players we have in the group will head bricks for us let alone footballs and that showed towards the end when they were getting blocks on, putting their bodies on the line.”

Ebanks and Owen James were a potent double threat for the Kettering defence and Davis is hoping that his leading scorer can continue to add to his tally.

“To play a team like Kettering with ten men is tough, really tough,” the Bards boss added. “Everywhere you look they have quality - their front players are frightening. So it is really pleasing to get a result. I thought we were clinical in front of goal and when we went in front I thought that it might have been our day.

“Hopefully Callum has his goalscoring boots back on now and he can go and score 20 goals between now and the end of the season

“It is disappointing to score three goals and only come away with a point but when you are playing a top team like Kettering with ten men for more than 60 minutes then you take it.”

The Bards host AFC Telford United tomorrow (New Year’s Day) and are away to Leiston on Saturday.