phew!
It's the New Year, your players are all full of turkey, and you've got the league leaders coming to town. Oh, and your No. 1 goalkeeper is injured with no back-up.
Billericay Town manager and talkSPORT host Jamie O'Hara faced quite the predicament ahead of the National League South clash with Wealdstone on Tuesday night.
1
“He’s texted me this morning to tell me he’s not going to be fit… I haven’t got another keeper," O’Hara explained on Monday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.
“The game is on Tuesday and I’ve got to register someone before 12pm TODAY. I might have to get the gloves on.
“So, if there are any keepers out there who fancy themselves – give me a call!”
New Grimsby Town boss Ian Holloway even offered his third-choice keeper for free, but in the end it was Charlton who came through with the goods.
Nineteen-year-old Nathan Harness joined on loan in the nick of time - and Billericay only went and beat leaders Wealdstone 3-1!
Harnesss produced an accomplished performance, including an incredible point-blank save at 0-0, much to the delight of his manager.
"The keeper comes in on a day's notice and puts in a great performance," O'Hara told Billericay Town TV.
"I thought he was fantastic. He's a Championship keeper who was on the bench for Charlton's first team on Saturday.
"He wasn't worried. I pulled him in, had a chat with him, and I knew straight away we were onto a winner.
"He's 19 but he's big, strong, kicks it a long way. I told him there would be a moment when he needed to keep us in it, and he did."
A true non-league fairytale.