Danby's Delight

Sensational Saves - John Danby

Chester City got the point they needed to survive in the Football League on Tuesday night in a result which relegated League Two strugglers Mansfield Town.  We caught up with one of the heroes from Tuesday night’s game, 24 year old goalkeeper John Danby, who made a succession of fine saves to deny Stockport County a sniff at goal.

“It’s a brilliant feeling,” commented Danby on City’s survival.  “We needed the point to stay up and we’ve got two clean sheets on the bounce which we haven’t done for god knows how long.  It’s just come at the right time really.  The whole team played well and that was a difficult game to play in.  The lads have worked their socks off and everyone was absolutely worn out after Tuesday’s game, but it has been worth it, we’ve stayed up.  The three minutes of stoppage time that seemed to go on forever, but we’ve done well and deserved it in the end.”

Of course the team will get most of the plaudits but many supporters will think of Danby’s superb one handed save from Anthony Pilkington as one of the key turning points in Tuesday’s game.  “It was a reaction save really,” recalled Danby.  “Sometimes they go for you, sometimes again.  I’ve had one of those days where things have hit me and stayed out where sometimes they might just drop in.  We needed that little bit of look on Tuesday night, so I think we deserved it in the end.

"We started the season off strongly, we dipped during the middle of the season and to be fair we put ourselves under pressure in the last few games.  We played superbly for the last two games and it was important to get the job done.  If you go into the last game needing a point or a win, it’s that much more difficult.  There’s intense pressure, so to get it out of the way now, we can just relax and enjoy the last game at home now.”