FOOTBALL

The eccentric goalkeeper enjoyed his first taste of playing in the world’s most illustrious club cup competition when he produced a man of the match performance in the first round win at Team Bath.

He has grabbed his chance with both hands since Ryan Robinson has been kept out with a persistent back injury, and produced a fantastic penalty save in the 1-0 win over Mansfield Town to help Rovers end a run of 12 league games without a win.

Now the former Army soldier is targeting FA cup success as Forest Green aim to reach the FA Cup third round for the first time in their history.

Burton is relishing the prospect of helping Forest Green reach the third round for the first time in their history, and is already dreaming of an away tie against this season’s surprise package in the Premiership and his hometown team Hull City.

“I’d like to play Hull City away,” he said.

“We beat Team Bath and were a bit lucky, but you make your own luck, and hopefully we can play a lot better on our own pitch, get the ball down and pass the ball, get everyone fit and you never know it could be a shock.

“It’s the FA Cup so if our players play 100 per cent we can beat anyone.

“Rochdale like to get the ball down and pass it so hopefully it will be a good game.”

“Last year Robbo played but hopefully I’ve done enough to keep my place and I can have a good game in the FA Cup.”

After some impressive displays Burton is hoping to hold onto the number one shirt at Forest Green and believes they can start to climb the Blue Square Premier table after their win against Mansfield.

“Since I’ve come in I think I’ve done alright,” he said.

“I think we’re better than where we are at the moment and hopefully some of our players will start coming back from injury, we can go on a big run and start heading up that table.”

Boss Jim Harvey praised Burton after his heroic performance against the Stags, saying: “He has this ability to keep the ball out of the net and the penalty save was something else - it was terrific.”

“He’s a real livewire in the changing room, the boys love him, he’s a great character and while Robbo’s out injured, Terry has come in and he’s had a couple of really good games.”

Regarding the penalty save, where he showed great agility and reflexes to tip Adnan Ahmed’s effort onto the bar, Burton said modestly: “When you go the right way you’ve got a chance and it was just a bit lucky that it hit the crossbar and landed right next to me.”

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