BEDFORD TOWN goalkeeper James Heeps stood between St Albans City and a place in the quarter-final of the Guardian Insurance Cup with an inspired display at Clarence Park last Tuesday.
The visitors set about the Saints with great aplomb early on before the Saints took complete control and but for Heeps' heroics would have won by a considerable margin.
But it was the debut-making City goalkeeper Paul Hodgson who distinguished himself first with a superb save from a Jason Reed free-kick. After that Bedford got into good positions on a couple of occasions but their finishing left a touch to be desired.
To a degree, St Albans suffered the same problems in front of goal but it was a text book move from which they opened the scoring on 33 minutes with Paul Turner heading in a crisply struck Justin Gentle corner.
Heeps used his legs to block a Barry Blackman volley and on 74 minutes it was Kevin Mudd's turn to be thwarted by the keeper.
Julian Hazle went close to equalising for Bedford after a defensive mix up before Heeps finest moment arrived with a magnificent push around the post from a Cobb effort.
Heeps' reward came six minutes from time when Reed, the club's record goalscorer, pulled Bedford level.
But it was Heeps who ensured the game went into extra time with another outstanding save from Daly.
The game will now be replayed at Bedford on Tuesday, December 30. |
