*BS*Mitch Walker talks about the dramatic events of last Saturday, saving penalties and looks forward to Whites’ promotion decider against Salisbury on Sunday.*BF*
Last weekend, a major plot twist in Dover’s play-off tale saw Walker go from making a mistake to concede a last minute equaliser to become a Crabble hero less than an hour later for his two stupendous stops in the penalty shoot-out.
Walker admitted the difficulty he faced at the end of normal time against Eastleigh: “It was hard to get out of my head, but I was always told when I was younger to not worry after making a mistake, otherwise it will lead to more errors.”
Walker demonstrated some interesting tactics in the penalty shoot-out on Saturday, including swinging from the cross bar. Mitchell said of his antics: “I couldn’t sleep one night, so turned on the television and saw the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer rocking the bar, so I thought I’d try it!”
*Ppic1*Prior to the Eastleigh games, the last two penalties Walker has faced in the league have either been missed or saved.
Whites number one added: “I don’t really practice saving penalties. I see it as a bit of a game and try to stare the taker out to try and get in their head as no-one expects the goalkeeper to save the penalties.
“Our players scored some brilliant penalties and they deserve the credit, it shows their mental strength.”
Dover face an all or nothing play-off final away to Salisbury on Sunday, a match Walker is clearly relishing: “These type of one off cup finals are the games you thrive to play in.
“Salisbury will start as slight favourites but when we played them last time we defended really well. They are full-time so their fitness might show and I expect to be busy, but we have match winners in our team.
“I’m looking forward to it and kind of relieved we are away as our home form has not been as good, which is something I still cannot quite put my finger on!”
Walker also gave special mention to the Supporters Player of the Season Ben May: “I feel sorry for Ben as he always come in after games with a bloody lip, or covered in bruises after being bashed up by defenders. He’s not just a standard target man though, he’s scored lots of goals. It’s well deserved!”