Nelson beaming as crucial saves earn vital win

Dwayne Nelson emerged from the Stangmore Park dressing room on Saturday with the smile of a man who knew he had played his part in a crucial victory.
Ballymena United keeper Dwayne Nelson saves Matt Hazley's injury time free kick to earn the Sky Blues a win at Dungannon. Picture: Press Eye.Ballymena United keeper Dwayne Nelson saves Matt Hazley's injury time free kick to earn the Sky Blues a win at Dungannon. Picture: Press Eye.
Ballymena United keeper Dwayne Nelson saves Matt Hazley's injury time free kick to earn the Sky Blues a win at Dungannon. Picture: Press Eye.

The goalkeeper’s two marvellous stops ensured that the Sky Blues didn’t toss away a two-goal lead as they emerged with three Danske Bank Premiership points.

The first of those - where he tipped Grant Hutchinson’s 25-yard piledriver onto the underside of the bar - drew gasps of admiration from both sets of fans and drew plaudits from both sets of players in the dressing room area afterwards.

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“Lee Doherty always says I go for saves with the wrong hand and I went with my left hand at full stretch and I was glad to get it onto the crossbar.

“I was worried about it coming down off the crossbar and maybe hitting me on the head and going in but thankfully it just fell into my arms when I got up.

“Doc maybe fancies himself as a bit of an authority on goalkeeping but, ‘wrong’ hand or not, I’m just glad I kept it out!”

Equally important was his injury-time save where he sprang full length to keep out Matthew Hazley’s free kick.

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“Hazley has a great left peg and he bent the free kick really well and it was right down into the bottom corner so I was pleased to get a strong hand to it and palm it away.

“For a keeper to make saves like that it feels the same way I imagine a striker must feel when he scores - especially if it’s the difference between winning and drawing a match.”

While Nelson’s response to assistant manager Doherty’s comments might have been light-hearted, he is deadly serious about the role United goalkeeping coach Wes Lamont has played in making him one of the top stoppers in the league.

“Keepers are there to make saves - that’s what they’re expected to do - but I still enjoy the felling of coming and catching the ball in a crowded penalty area. That gives me as much confidence as making saves.

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“Wes gives me the confidence to go and do what I have to do.

“Everything I do with Wes is match-related and he is a good influence on me.

I have known Wes for years, even before he came to the club. When Kenny Shiels was managing Coleraine and Wes was his goalkeeper, I was training with him when I was a young boy.

“Wes always strives to be the best and that rubs off on me.

“I think I’ve carried on from where I left off last season and I’m enjoying my football. People always say keepers need consistency and I’m glad to be playing and trying my best to be consistent week in, week out.

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Away from football, Nelson also has his hands full in a different sense with the birth of son Jacob four weeks ago.

“I’m going to have to look about getting a pair of gloves for him - start him early!” laughed Dwayne.

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