Bristol City 1 AFC Telford 0 - match report and pictures

Inspired by goalkeeper Jonathan Hedge's agile saves, bolstered by tireless endeavour and commitment by every single player Telford thoroughly deserved a replay against League One leaders Bristol City.

They also conjured three excellent chances to have recorded a memorable 16th League scalp.

But instead Kieran Agard's close-range finish from a corner sent City into the third round.

There was still time for Bucks substitute Sam Smith to have grabbed an equaliser but he prodded one effort wide and headed another chance from seven yards straight at City keeper Frank Fielding.

Telford, at the foot of the Conference Premier, have endured plenty of frustration this season but was the most painful defeat, particularly for Hedge.

He regards being omitted from the Tamworth line-up to face Everton in a third-round tie three years ago as the biggest disappointment of his career.

Yesterday, having been recalled for the cup-tied Freddy Hall, was a day he will recall with pride after a series of stunning saves put Telford on the brink of a replay.

Playing a team 71 places above them in the league, and having just won three league games, Telford were always huge underdogs. A Yorkshire terrier against a Great Dane but they barked and snapped for 96 minutes of a fascinating tie.

Telford had accounted for Spennymoor and Basingstoke to reach this stage, but this was an altogether tougher challenge at Ashton Gate. And how they rose to the task.

For all their possession - and they had shiploads of it - Bristol City struggled to break down a resilient and tireless backguard. When they did, Hedge was in unbeatable form, throwing himself left and right to keep the ball out.

It was a "Thou Shall Not Pass" performance on a special Sabbath, but Telford were not simply about backs-to-the-wall defending.

They conjured an excellent chance after ten minutes when right-back Ryan Higgins whipped in a inviting cross and Mike Grogan sent an excellent header which forced keeper Fielding into a sprawling parry at the foot of the post.

Another half-chance fell to Josh Hancock but his vision of a 25-yard 'worldy" arrowing into the top corner was only that as the ball sailed over.

But Hedge was the busier keeper. City gained plenty of attacking success down their right with Luke Ayling and Scott Wagstaff creators in chief and the Robins' most threatening moments involved their crosses.

Ayling's clever cross set up Aaron Wilbrahim but Hedge saved smartly, diving to his right.

Wilbrahim then linked up with Agard as his strike partner raced into the inside right channel but Hedge was quick off his line to block at the near post.

Two crosses from Wagstaff just eluded the onrushing strikers before Agard's shot was deflected wide.

And just before half-time Hedge produced a super double save as City sensed the breakthrough. Another Ayling cross picked out Wilbrahim and the Bristol top scorer must have thought he was about to celebrate his 13th goal of the season until Hedge stuck out his hand to parry.

The danger was not over as Todd Kane returned the ball to the danger area and Agard headed goalwards before Hedge intervened again.

Inevitably, Bristol's full-timers cranked up the pressure in the second half but Telford's blue wall continued to stand firm.

Greg Cunningham smashed an angled effort wide from a good position on the right but a moment's hesitation from Bucks centre-back Andrew Parry almost proved fatal on 64 minutes. In trying to shepherd the ball, he let substitute Luke Freeman snaffle the ball and Hedge blocked his stinging shot at the near post.

Telford were clearly frustrating the hosts as City boss Steve Cotterill made his three substitutions.

Instead, it was the visitors who almost grabbed the breakthrough. Andy Todd, who played for Burton Albion in a famous draw with Manchester United, raced down the left in a swift counter-attack and cracked an angled effort across goal. Fielding parried but luckily for him defender Aden Flint hooked away the rebound.

Moments later, Fielding rescued the hosts again with a flying save to push away a beautifully-timed volley from Todd.

Play began to ebb and flow like the nearby Severn on the tide and the drama continued to intensify as both sides sensed they could snatch a winner.

From his first touch after replacing the tireless Adam Farrell, Smith's right-footed effort from 35 yards dropped just over the City net and then Hancock went close.

But then came the moment, two minutes into stoppage time, which deflated Telford like a pin popping a child's birthday balloon.

Wilbrahim flicked on Freeman's left-wing corner and Agard was lurking to scamble the ball over the line at the far post.

There was still time for Smith to threaten an equaliser when he swung his boot and sent a bobbling effort inches wide and then the striker sent a header straight at Fielding when any other direction would have seen it nestling in the net.

Cue head-in-the-hands reaction from the Telford players and bench. It was that sort of 'what if' day.