Ben Foster, calm as the pressure mounted, walked up to the penalty spot to face Northampton's second penalty taker. Unlike many goalkeepers who might commit early, Foster remained poised, standing his ground and reading the striker's approach.
To everyone's surprise, the Northampton player went for a bold "spoon-like" Panenka penalty. But Foster had anticipated something audacious and comfortably caught the ball as if it were a routine pass.
The stadium roared as Foster clenched his fists and let out an emotional roar. His teammates, shoulder-to-shoulder moments before, erupted in celebration as if they had already won the penalty shootout.
Even Villa, who had missed Notts County's first penalty, lifted his head. Guilt and anxiety seemed to melt away, replaced by a flicker of hope. If the team were eliminated after his miss, he would have shouldered the weight of being the "sinner." But Foster's brilliance had brought them back into contention.
David, watching from the stands, quietly resolved to treat Ben Foster to a special dinner as thanks for rescuing the team.
As the penalty shootout progressed, the players on both teams regained their composure. After Villa's early miss, both sides converted their penalties, bringing the score to 3–3, with only one player from each team left to take a shot.
Northampton's final penalty taker stepped up. Visibly nervous, the player made an uncharacteristic stumble as he approached the ball, almost tripping over his own feet. The crowd gasped in surprise.
From the sideline, Low's posture straightened as a flicker of belief flashed across his face. "This might be it," he muttered.
Ben Foster locked his gaze on the ball, focused and unmoving. When the Northampton player finally struck it, the shot was predictable and lacked conviction. Anticipating the trajectory perfectly, Foster dived low to his right and parried the ball clear of the post.
For a split second, there was silence, the weight of the moment sinking in. Then the stadium erupted. Foster, overwhelmed with emotion, tore off his gloves and launched them skyward, screaming his triumph.
The Notts County players wanted to rush him, but they held back—the shootout wasn't over yet. There was one penalty left to take.
And who stepped up for Notts County's fifth penalty? None other than the hero himself, Ben Foster.
It wasn't entirely unusual for a goalkeeper to take a penalty, especially during shootouts. Having played the mental chess match with strikers all night, Foster knew how to outthink his counterpart.
Placing the ball on the penalty spot, Foster stepped back with a determined look. He smashed the shot with incredible power, blasting the ball half-height into the net.
While such powerful shots are risky without precision, Foster's kick was executed perfectly, leaving the Northampton keeper frozen and helpless.
The Notts County players, unable to restrain themselves any longer, swarmed Foster. He was mobbed by teammates who piled onto him, creating a celebratory dogpile. Even players from the bench stormed the pitch to join the jubilant scene.
In the stands, Northampton supporters looked dejected, but a few graciously applauded Foster's exceptional performance. Some of their players, too, lined up to exchange jerseys with Notts County—a first for this group of players, who weren't yet accustomed to being treated like stars.
David observed this with a quiet smile. "These Northampton players have no idea how lucky they are. Years from now, these jerseys will belong to players who will become legends."
For both Low and David, the victory brought a palpable sense of relief. Notts County's League Cup journey was still alive. At a time when the team was still in its most fragile stage, being eliminated after such a tough battle would have dealt a blow to morale. This victory, however, served to strengthen the team's spirit and cement their bond.
The day after their dramatic victory, there was little time to celebrate. The team faced a grueling schedule with the third round of the league coming just three days later—the dreaded "three games a week" grind.
David, while discussing the scheduling with Low, couldn't help but criticize the archaic system in English lower-league football.
"You'd think the FA would give these players a break. Playing 46 league games, plus the cup competitions? At this rate, it's a miracle anyone survives the season without collapsing!"
Low nodded but accepted the reality. "Unfortunately, it's part of football at this level. It's why depth matters so much."
While the team resumed recovery training, Ben Foster was the undeniable star of the session. His teammates couldn't resist teasing him about his newfound status.
"You're officially our most clinical finisher, Foster!" joked Sneijder. "We might have to put you on the penalty list permanently!"
Foster laughed but remained humble, brushing off the attention. Deep down, though, he understood the weight of responsibility—the injured Diego Lopez would be sidelined for at least three weeks, meaning Foster was now Notts County's primary goalkeeper.
"It's your time to shine," David told Foster after training. Though encouraged, the young keeper's expression betrayed the pressure he felt.
With the victory behind them, David and Low returned to the coach's office to strategize.
"The League Cup win boosts morale," Low began. "Getting through a tough penalty shootout like that will stick with the players—it creates bonds."
David nodded. "But now we need to assess our priorities. This schedule is brutal, and we can't be at full strength for everything. How important are the League Cup and FA Cup to you? And what about the Football League Trophy? It's practically pointless."
Low agreed with David's assessment:
1. The League remained the top priority. Securing promotion to English League One was absolutely critical.
2. The League Cup had value, especially as a pathway to the UEFA Cup, though Low admitted advancing too far could strain the squad if handled poorly.
3. The FA Cup, while prestigious, could pose a serious challenge given the greater focus placed on it by Premier League and Championship clubs.
4. Lastly, the Football League Trophy was considered expendable—a "tasteless" competition that would provide little reward for the effort.
Low leaned forward, his tone thoughtful. "I understand the importance of competing on all fronts, but the league has to come first. After all, what's the point of trophies without promotion?"
David smiled, fully in agreement. "Then we'll focus our resources where they matter most."
As they finalized plans for the upcoming weeks, both men shared a quiet optimism. The journey ahead wouldn't be easy, but with moments like Ben Foster's heroics to rally the team, Notts County was building something that felt unbreakable.
Victory would come, one step at a time.