Aston Oxborough lived in Liam Kelly’s shadow for two years at Motherwell – but now the goalkeeper is taking centre stage and producing the kind of displays to make him a Fir Park hero.
The 26-year-old produced two match-winning moments in Saturday’s 2-1 win over St Mirren, first making an outstanding stop from a Killian Phillips header just before the break and then finding another stunning stop to keep out Mark O’Hara’s penalty in the second half.
His penalty save came with Well leading 2-1 and down to 10 men – after Lennon Miller’s double and a Dan Casey red card – and he says his time spent on the sidelines over the last 24 months have helped him prime himself for being the Steelmen’s new No.1 under boss Stuart Kettlewell.
Oxborough, who has taken the gloves since Kelly’s summer move to Rangers, said: “It was obviously frustrating. I had to try and take the emotion out of it in a way and see the bigger picture; using that as fuel for if and when I did get a chance.
“I tried to use all that time wisely. I tried to work on things behind the scenes, which I think I have done.
“Those were different things, nothing major. I did a bit more gym work. I was working on more tactical things behind the scenes, distribution with the ball.
“They were little things that I can see helping me now. I’m obviously a different goalie now to when I came here.
“I wanted to improve and I was hoping that, over the long term, I would get a chance. That’s what has happened, so I’m very happy. I am really relishing it.”
On his save from O’Hara, which helped take the Steelmen up to fourth in the Premiership ahead of Saturday’s trip to the capital to face Hibs, he said: “Once you decide or go the right way, you’ve got to give it everything and fly towards it. Luckily it stayed out.
“The guys behind the scenes have to take big credit as well – our goalkeeping coach (Neil Alexander), the analysis guys. They are a big part of it.”
Oxborough says he has always had the backing of his gaffer when he had to sit tight on the bench and never felt isolated.
He added: “Even last year when Liam played, the manager still had a lot of good words for me and we had a really good relationship.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him. Even just the group of boys, it’s a close-knit changing room and you never really feel far apart from things. We all got on really well. I’m really grateful to the manager.”
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