Scoring Stoppers! National League Keepers That Have Found The Net

Keepers get paid to save them but there’s nothing better than seeing a number one trot up the pitch for a late corner in the hope of becoming an internet sensation.

That’s exactly what Whitehawk’s Seny Dieng did on Saturday, despite his side being 2-0 down at Chippenham Town in the Vanarama National League South.

Still, the young QPR loanee made it a nervy laste couple of minutes for the hosts after producing a fine header from Ermal Hajdari’s corner that Alan Shearer would have been proud of.

Dieng’s goal got us thinking and we have looked through the National League archives to find some other scoring stoppers.

Nathan Vaughan (Torquay United v SOLIHULL MOORS - August 2017)

While not as technically gifted as Dieng’s effort, Vaughan’s might prove to be a lot more important. The Solihull stopper launched a long clearance during the National League fixture earlier this season. Unfortunately for Torquay keeper Dan Lavercombe, it kept going and going, bouncing over him and into the back of the net. Solihull ended up winning 2-1 at Plainmoor and Vaughan’s goal could be the difference between survival and relegation come the end of May.

---

Dan Lowson (Radcliffe Borough v SPENNYMOOR TOWN - September 2016)

The only goal in our list scored in the FA Cup. Lowson’s long free-kick from just inside his own penalty area had plenty of power on it. Too much for his own players and too much, clearly, for his opposite number as the ball drifted over his head and into the net. Spennymoor went on to win 5-3 - not a bad afternoon’s work!

---

Deren Ibrahim (DARTFORD v Hungerford Town - August 2016)

Ibrahim showed exactly why he is an international goalkeeper with Gibraltar! Tasked with delivering a free-kick from his own half into the Hungerford penalty area, Ibrahim went one better. The swirling wind gave the ball some extra carry leading to his opposite number George Legg misjudging the flight. Legg tried to keep the ball out but could only get a faint touch as it sailed into the goal.

---

Jamie Butler (HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN v Sutton United - February 2016)

Equalising goal? Tick. In stoppage time? Tick. From his own penalty area? Tick! Jamie Butler scored arguably the most bizarre of the goals on this list in the 2015-16 campaign. Sutton looked set for the three points as they led 2-0 heading into the final minutes. Hemel pulled one back and then Butler, trying to launch a final attack, booted a goal kick out of his hands. The ball carried, and carried, took a funny bounce and nestled into the top corner. Talk about drama!

---

Alan Marriott (MANSFIELD TOWN v Wrexham - April 2012)

Similar to Butler’s strike, Marriott also netted from his own penalty area. His long punt upfield had too much on it for the Mansfield forwards and with nobody chasing, looked to be an easy take for Wrexham’s Joslain Mayebi. Mayebi was on the edge of his own area, clearly didn’t expect the huge bounce that was about to deceive him and could only collapse and lie on his back as he waited for the ground to swallow him up.

---

Ashley Bayes (GRAYS ATHLETIC v Havant & Waterlooville - April 2005)

When’s the best time to let your goalkeeper take a penalty? Some would say never! With the Conference South title already secured, Grays decided to give Bayes his chance in their final home fixture against Havant. Fan favourite Bayes raced down the field after a spot kick was awarded and despite seeing his effort denied, the Grays stopper saved his own blushes by poking home the rebound.

---

Nikki Bull (ALDERSHOT TOWN v Hendon - April 2003)

Similar to Bayes, Bull was a fan favourite and had just been announced as Aldershot’s Player of the Year. So when a penalty was given in the second half of their game against Hendon back in 2003, only one man was going to take it. Unlike Bayes, Bull got the job done with his first effort, sending the Hendon keeper the wrong way.

---

Have we missed out a scoring keeper from your team? Get in touch and let us know on Twitter!

---

For more news, reaction and action from across the National League, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.