KEEPER Alex Smithies gave an insight into what it takes to be a top stopper after helping Huddersfield Town win and sparing Antony Kay’s blushes with a brilliant late save.
The utility player, partnering Peter Clarke at centre-back, looked to have scored an own goal when a shot cannoned off his trailing leg two minutes from time.
But Smithies, who was wrong-fronted by Kay’s deflection of a Harry Baker effort, scrambled the other way to tip the ball around a post.
The 20-year-old said: “I think Antony was relieved. He high-fived me after that one. I’d seen the shot come in and stepped off to my right.
“But I was wrong-footed when it hit Antony’s leg and went the other way.
“I dived to my left and just managed to stretch far enough to get a hand on it.”
Smithies, again the subject of transfer window speculation in the national press, did not have much to do until the visitors rallied late on.
He caught the eye three minutes earlier with a good save to deny Dover’s 29-goal top scorer Adam Birchall as the Whites sought a breakthrough in front of 1,535 travelling fans.
Smithies said: “I didn’t have much to do throughout most of the second half, so to be called on to make a couple of saves makes me feel like I was part of the win.
“Goalkeeping is all about concentration.
“I’ve learned that the best keepers are concentrating all the time and are ready to make a save at any moment.”
Town went 2-0 up inside eight minutes thanks to Lee Novak setting up Scott Arfield for a tap in and then Gary Roberts in the space of a minute.
Blue Square South high-fliers Dover almost pulled one back before half-time when Roberts cleared off the line a goal-bound Olly Schulz header.
Heroics from Smithies later stopped the visitors getting at least a consolation and he said of Dover’s performance: “They’ve had a fantastic cup run.
“They might be a smaller club than us but they’ve come here and really competed.
“Two-nil is not a whitewash by any means. They’re a credit to themselves and their league.”
He added of the transfer gossip: “I don’t listen to rumours.
“That’s not for me to deal with. I just get on with my job and want to concentrate on doing my best for the team.”
What did you think of Saturday's performance? Do you think a good cup run will help or hinder Huddersfield Town's promotion challenge?
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