IT MIGHT not have been the clean sheet that Ally Adams was expecting but instead he got his name on the scoresheet.
The Tranent Juniors shotstopper is more accustomed to keeping the ball out of the net at one end than firing home at the other.
However, his quick-thinking on Saturday at Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts saw him blast home a 55-yard free-kick over the top of the unfortunate home goalkeeper to keep the Belters on course for victory.
He said: “We were in a decent position 3-1 up and I thought ‘I am having a go here’ and went for it.
“It was definitely intentional.
“It is something I have been notorious for trying over the years and been close a couple of times.
“I hit the bar before and scored one that was chopped off but this one counted!"
Tranent Juniors have enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign and were already on course for three points in Fife through goals from Kayne Paterson, Adam Watson and Ben Miller.
Tranent-born Miller’s goal came from a free-kick from distance but the best was yet to come for Adams, who turns 29 today (Friday).
He said: “Mine was much further out!
“I have done it on purpose but Ben has put it in the box!”
Impressively, it is not the first time the Belters’ number one has found the net.
He found the net three times for former club Musselburgh Athletic as an outfield player and even had a goal chopped off while playing as a goalkeeper.
He said: “I’ve scored a couple of goals before – I fancy myself as a striker!
“I’ve scored a few goals and this should be the second one from in goals.
“I did the exact same thing before and scored against Sauchie Juniors but the referee chopped it off for offside.
“I was put up front for Musselburgh against Whitburn and we had already won the league.
“I had been saying I was a better striker – the usual goalie stuff – and went up front and played quite well.
“I set one up and scored; I scored a couple for Musselburgh over the years.”
The top scorer award might be out of reach for the former Berwick Rangers number one but the chance of an East of Scotland Premier Division winners’ medal is very much up for grabs.
Tranent have won six games out of six under new manager Calum Elliot and sit top of the table, three points ahead of Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale, who have a game in hand.
An East Lothian derby is on the cards tomorrow (Saturday), with Elliot’s men facing Dunbar United for the second time in two weeks having won 4-0 at Foresters Park on October 24.
Adams, who runs A-Fit Gym in Midlothian, was keen to see the team keep that momentum going and the Port Seton-based number one said: “Calum has been brilliant and you can tell he has been at the highest level.
“He is really, really good, very approachable but you can tell he has got that will to win.
“He has got that winners’ mentality and you need that to play at the top level for as long as he did.
“He is very, very good and all the previously clubs spoke highly of him and you can see why.”
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