Goalkeeper Matthew Cox was a hero at both ends for AFC Wimbledon Under-18s on Tuesday.
The young Dons were heading out of the EFL Youth Alliance Cup, before Cox, up for a corner, headed home five minutes into injury-time to earn a 2-2 draw. That meant a penalty shoot-out and Cox then excelled himself between the sticks by making two saves to take Wimbledon through.
Hosts Northampton had taken the lead early on through a penalty after a challenge in the box by Luke Jenkins was penalised. However, Wimbledon replied immediately from the kick-off when full-back Isaac Ogundere powered down the flank and put in a cross for David Fisher, but a Northampton defender diverted the ball in for an own goal.
Northampton were awarded another penalty in the second-half after Elliott Bolton was adjudged to have fouled in the box, but Cox made a superb save to keep Wimbledon level. Though Fisher came so close to giving Wimbledon the lead, Northampton marched in front with a breakaway goal in the 85th minute.
With a minute to go, last-ditch challenges from Hussain Bilal and Bolton kept Wimbledon in the game, before Cox headed home in dramatic fashion deep into injury-time. In the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Cox was the hero as he made two penalty saves to take Wimbledon into the next round of the competition.