Soccer: Paston thankful for Muscat

Mark Paston. Photo / Getty Images

The next time Mark Paston sees Manny Muscat on the other side of the bar the big Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper should probably buy the hard-working right back the first round.

Paston's long-awaited return to the starting XI for the A-League club nearly turned to disaster on Sunday when a well-struck shot from Gold Coast United's Peter Jungschlager squeezed under his body, but Muscat was on hand to clear the ball inches before it crossed the goal line.

Of course, the Phoenix held on to keep a precious clean sheet and claim an even more valuable three points when Tim Brown headed home the winner in the 88th minute at Skilled Park.

Paston has spent the past three months on the bench after he was injured in the season opener against Gold Coast and even when he was back at full fitness, Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert preferred veteran Tony Warner between the sticks over the All Whites keeper.

"It was nice to turn around and see him sort of ghost into the picture,'' Paston said of Muscat's miraculous clearance.

"And it was just one of those moments where it's nice to have your team-mates jump in and save you.''

Aside from that minor blemish, Paston made two high-quality saves in the first spell and showed he hadn't lost any of the touch that made him one of the stars of the All Whites' unbeaten campaign at the 2010 World Cup, where the 1.95m gloveman kept a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw against Paraguay.

The 35-year-old Hastings-born product played only his 40th game for the Phoenix in the victory over Gold Coast despite being in to his fifth season with the club.

Injuries and competition from other keepers such as fellow All White Glen Moss have limited his time on the pitch, but there's little doubt that when Paston is fit he is one of the most competent No 1s in the A-League.

It's been well documented the Phoenix have had to battle on without a fulltime goalkeeping coach this season, following the departure of Jonathan Gould to the Perth Glory.

Team Wellington's Mark Oates has lent a hand when he can, but Paston admitted keeping motivated this year had been tough considering he spent so much time on the bench.

"To be honest it's pretty hard actually when you're not playing and not in there. I don't know. I think that's what being a professional is all about. You've just got to grind through the tough times and try and sort of keep yourself in the best shape as you can and hopefully when that opportunity turns up you are ready to go.''

Paston's next opportunity to ensure he is picked to start for the rest of the season comes tomorrow night when the Phoenix meet the ninth-placed Newcastle Jets at Ausgrid Stadium.

The Phoenix (24 points) are only one point behind the third-place Melbourne Heart on the A-League ladder and could leapfrog the Heart with a win over the Jets.

Melbourne play the second-place Brisbane Roar (28 points) on Saturday night, before travelling to Wellington to meet the Phoenix on January 29.