JOHN DANBY is planning to extend his impressive run of clean sheets.
The Blues goalkeeper has registered a career-best eight consecutive games without conceding a goal to help push Chester to within a point of Northern Premier League leaders Northwich Victoria.
Danby, who is enjoying his second spell at Chester after making 133 appearances for Chester City between 2006 and 2010, has beaten ex-Blues goalkeeper Grenville Millington’s club record for the most clean sheets.
Admitting his pride in his personal record of 720 minutes without conceding a goal, Stoke-born Danby, 28, said: “Eight consecutive clean sheets is my best record so far as a keeper.
“I managed six clean sheets last season at Eastwood and I thought that was pretty good, but eight is pretty much unheard of these days.
“But if we keep doing what we are doing, especially managing to win games like Saturday’s at home to Chasetown who defended very well, I don’t think we’ll go far wrong.
“I didn’t have too much to do, but we’ve just got to keep our concentration at the back and continue to pick up the points.
“I’ve not set myself a target of consecutive clean sheets because I don’t want to jinx myself.”
Paying tribute to his defence for the part they had played in Chester’s impressive run since their 4-1 defeat at Nantwich on August 29, Danby added: “Having experienced players like George Horan in defence has certainly helped our cause, but Wes Baynes came in at right back on Saturday and played really well after slotting in well in our behind closed matches.
“Michael Taylor, like George, is an experienced defender, and I can see from the way they play and the way they defend that we’re not going to concede many goals.
“The lads have been defending really well and to be honest I haven’t had that much to do.
“I’ve made a few saves and I’ve taken a few catches from crosses and made a few kicks, but the lads have been defending really well and they are also scoring a lot of goals.
“We’ve tried to get into a good tempo early on in games and get at teams, and sides have found it hard to come back at us.
“It was frustrating for us on Saturday, but if the goal by Chris Simm had counted early doors I think it would have been a totally different game.
“I think Chasetown went five at the back in the end and they were a big strong team that were winning the headers and putting their bodies on the line.
“It did look like it was going to be one of those days because they were always looking for a set-piece or a breakaway, but the lads did well because it wasn’t the prettiest of games.
“But Wildey came on and got his goal which he fully deserved because he’s worked hard to get himself back. He gets all the plaudits for making the breakthrough.”
Danby admitted he sympathised with anyone not involved in the Blues’ current starting line-up – including deputy keeper, Adam Judge.
He said: “I suppose it’s difficult for Adam at the moment, but if he gets a chance to play I’ll be wishing him well.
“At the minute we don’t look like conceding, and the games that Adam has played behind closed doors he has played extremely well.
“He trains well and he’s a good keeper, and it’s good to have that competition for my place. It’s a long season, especially during the winter months when the pitches get heavier and the games still come around thick and fast, so we need to have a squad that can get us through.”
Confident Chester can build on their good form during the coming months, Danby added: “It’s a strange league at the minute and that is borne out by Saturday’s results with Chorley losing 4-0 at Matlock.
“A lot of teams spring surprises, especially when they come to Chester because we’ve got a nice ground and a nice pitch which helps other teams raise their game.
“It’s going to be tough, but we’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing – digging in deep, defending well, and when we get a chance in front of goal we need to take it.”