Mixed emotions for Harriers's penalty hero (From Worcester News)

Mixed emotions for Harriers's penalty hero

3:00pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News

PENALTY hero Dean Lyness had mixed emotions after his heroics in Harriers’ FA Trophy loss to Luton Town on Tuesday night.

The 20-year-old keeper did his claim for a regular starting berth no harm at all with a man of the match display.

The pinnacle of his evening came less than 60 seconds after Dan Bradley had levelled the scores for Harriers, when he produced an extraordinary save from the penalty spot to deny Stuart Fleetwood.

But Fleetwood had the last laugh when he pounced on an error by captain Mike Williams to score on the stroke of half-time as the Aggborough outfit missed out on a place in the Trophy’s last eight.

“It was great to get a game and hopefully I’ve done myself some justice.

“It’s part of the game - you win some and you lose some - and all I can do is keep the ball out of the back of the net.

“It was nice to save a penalty but it would have been nicer if it had meant something at the end of the game.

“It was a fairly good hit. Sometimes the pressure of a penalty can see them bobble into the corner, but luckily enough I guessed the right way and got my arm up and got a good hand to it.

“It was a great strike and he’ll be disappointed to not to have scored.”

Lyness is now eager for a regular run in the first team. He enjoyed a run of games in October after Danny Lewis was ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage but since the arrival of Tony Breeden from Leamington, he’s had to make do with appearances in the FA Trophy.

“I experienced playing in the team earlier in the season but Tony came in and has been outstanding,” added the young custodian.

“He hasn’t done much wrong since coming into the team and part and parcel of being a goalkeeper is that there’s only one place to fight for.

“We’re good mates off the field and push each other.”