TRANSFER-LISTED goalkeeper Andy de Bont was Hereford United's hero when he made a dramatic penalty shoot-out save to knock Third Division Colchester United out of the FA Cup in a second round replay at Edgar Street on Tuesday.

The match had ended 1-1 after extra time and the penalty tally was standing at 5-4 in the Bulls' favour when Colchester substitute Simon Betts had the onerous task of levelling the score before it went to 'sudden death.' Betts was no stranger to the task as it was his spot-kick which clinched his side's penalty shoot-out victory over Brentford in their first round replay.

This time de Bont foiled him. The ex-Wolves keeper dived to his left to block the ball and had hardly got to his feet before scores of joyous fans rushed from the Meadow End terraces to shower congratulations on him for securing a home third round tie against First Division Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, January 3.

De Bont said: ''I knew I would save at least one penalty. I dived to my right for three of the four previous kicks. This time I went the other way and it came off.''

It was just as important, of course, that Hereford's penalty-takers did not fail. Director of football Graham Turner said: ''We practised penalty-taking for an hour at the Meadow End on Monday. We worked out the order they would be taken and what each taker was aiming to do.''

Practice is one thing, though. It is different when the pressure is on. But Neil Grayson, Chris Hargreaves, Richard Walker, Brian McGorry and Rob Warner kept their nerve and despatched a perfect quintet of spot-kicks past Carl Emberson. If the Bulls had lost out, it would have been a travesty of justice as they grew in confidence as the match progressed and completely dominated extra time.

Turner said: ''In the first half there was a lot of tension and both sides found it difficult to settle on the ball. But there was no doubt that over the two ties we were the better team.''

The first half was a scrappy affair with the ball too often in the air. Scott Stamps shot wide of a gaping Hereford goal and, in a desperate goalmouth scramble, Gavin Mahon cleared off United's line. The Bulls' best chance fell to Grayson who surged into the penalty area, only to fire wide.

The game burst into life in the 48th minute when Colchester took the lead. David Green flicked on former Hereford midfielder Richard Wilkins' throw to Steve Forbes who tucked the ball between de Bont and the near post.

But the visitors and their 91 fans in the crowd had just 45 seconds to savour their goal. Straight from the re-start Hargreaves scuttled down the left flank and crossed for Grayson to head home the equaliser.

The striker, who had never scored in the FA Cup before this season, has now netted four times in the competition. He then twice had chances to net again but his first touch let him down on one occasion and on the other he shot straight at Emberson. In the 94th minute Murray Fishlock, again in top form, was a whisker away from snatching the lead from a free-kick which whipped against an upright as James McCue desperately tried to apply the finishing touch. By then Colchester looked a spent force as Hereford forced seven corners in extra time.

Hereford: de Bont, Warner, Brough, Walker, Fishlock, Cook (Pitman 67 min), McGorry, Hargreaves, Mahon, Grayson, McCue (Williams G 114 min). Subs not used: Withington, Rodgerson, Mansell.

Attendance: 3,725.