AT AROUND 9pm on Saturday, Mark Paston's ten-week old son Jack was fast asleep in his bassinette, blissfully unaware of the pandemonium his father had just caused down the road at Westpac Stadium.
Paston's penalty save early in the second half of the World Cup qualifier against Bahrain was the game's defining moment. Rory Fallon's goal might have given the All Whites the lead, but Paston's heroics ensured his goal remained intact and contributed as much, if not more, to New Zealand's progression to South Africa 2010.
The man they call Pasty is not the most fashionable of players. Someone said to me last week they'd seen a fan wearing a replica jersey with his name on the back and wondered why anyone would choose Paston as their favourite. After his contribution on Saturday night, it might be hard to find one of his shirts now.
Paston's often been considered second-best behind Glen Moss at both club and international level. But many people forget he was set to start Phoenix's first ever A-League match in 2007, before a freak training accident opened the door for Moss who proceeded to make the goalkeeper's spot his own. Paston had to watch with growing frustration from the sideline, and when he did get a run in the team last season, injury put paid to his chances of staking a permanent claim for the number one jersey.
But Moss's departure from Phoenix and his suspension from the national side have thrust Paston centre-stage. His performances have become increasingly more impressive this A-League season, and his form in the two matches against Bahrain have been absolutely crucial to World Cup qualification. For 180 minutes in Manama and Wellington, Paston denied Bahrain access to his goal. They threw everything at him, including Saturday night's penalty and he repelled it all. He was quite simply immense.
When Jack Paston is old enough to understand the significance of his father's deeds, he'll be regaled with tales of the marvellous, dramatic November night in Wellington when his Dad had a simple message for Bahrain. Thou shalt not pass.
