CRAIG Payton hailed goalkeeper Steve Parker as Bewdley Town's hero after his penalty shoot-out heroics booked their place in the Worcestershire Senior Urn semi-finals.

After a 2-2 draw against Lye Town on Monday, Bewdley prevailed 7-6 on spot-kicks with Parker saving two penalties before Alex Kilroy tucked home the winning kick.

Manager Payton revealed the keeper has been playing through the pain barrier but he earned his side victory when he dived to keep out spot-kicks from Ash Greenaway and Matt Blakemore.

"We have been without Tommy Harper and Darren Steadman through suspension so Steve has had to play, even though he has got a problem with his thigh," said Payton. "He has never complained and he got his reward on Monday."

Bewdley will now play Alvechurch in the last four - a repeat of last season's semi - but Payton hopes the result will be a catalyst in sparking a positive end to their season.

"The Urn win really keep our season alive, and hopefully we can build on it," said Payton. "We've not had the best of seasons so far, we've been missing personnel through injuries and it's been difficult keeping a settled side. When we did we won four games in a row.

"We've got a good bunch of players her, they have knuckled dow and worked hard and they got their rewards with cup semi-final to look forward to."

Bewdley had lost to Lye last Saturday in a West Midlands Premier fixture, going down 2-0, but revenge was sweet when they meet at Ribbesford Meadows.

They raced into a two-goal lead after just 20 minutes when Grant Joshua converted a penalty awarded after Lye's Tony Arnold fouled Lewis Pountney and then Pountney headed home a corner.

But an own goal put Lye back in the game on 34 minutes before Blakemore levelled matters on 69 minutes.

"It was pretty even and it could have gone either way in extra time. We had chances, they had chances," said Payton.

"When Grant Joshua missed with our first penalty in the shoot-out, Lye were in the ascendancy but then we got back into it. Steve Parker made a brilliant couple of saves and Alex Kilroy finished it off."

n Striker Joshua will miss Saturday's league match at Gornal Athletic through suspension, while Chris Hough, who picked up an ankle injury on Monday, will also be ruled out.

Kidderminster Harriers youth teamer Sam Woodhouse will come into contention.

Payton added: “We were working hard with Harriers to help him progress and it will do him the world of good.”