10-MAN Ledbury Town were within seconds of a penalty shootout before Hereford Pegasus struck deep into stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win in the Herefordshire FA County Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night.
Ben Miller had given Ledbury the lead with a superb free-kick, but goals from Harry Pitman and Frank Pemberton gave Pegasus a 2-1 half-time lead.
Nathan Ince equalised for Ledbury in the second-half and it looked for all money that the game would be settled from the spot before Lewis Moseley's sweet strike deep into stoppage time broke Ledbury hearts and sealed their place in the semi-finals.
It was a packed-out New Street on Tuesday night under the lights as supporters turned out in their droves for the local derby cup tie.
The players are out on the pitch - excellently welcomed by our mascots - and we're away in the HFA County Cup. Come on Ledbury! #oneTown pic.twitter.com/LSBMeLK1M4
— Ledbury Town FC (@LedburyTown1893) November 21, 2023
Pegasus, two levels above Town, were obvious big favourites and those odds were further stacked in their favour when Ben Febery was sent off in just the eighth minute of the game.
But when Miller curled a free-kick past young keeper Aiden Bryant in the 13th minute, the upset was on.
Pegasus did come back into it just before half-time with a quick double, however, to swing the tie back in their favour as both Pitman and Pemberton found the back of the net.
The visitors did not really kick on in the second-half against the 10 men and with 20 minutes to play, substitute Ince was brought on and scored to level it up at 2-2.
As the game wore on, Ledbury dropped deeper into their own half but had looked to have done enough to take the game to penalties against the odds.
But they were hit with a late, late blow when Moseley swept home in the 95th minute.
Heartbreak for Ledbury, but a valiant effort against the odds with 10 men for almost the entirety of the game.
They are back in league action this weekend when they host Malvern Town Development at New Street.
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