In a parallel universe, Taye Ashby-Hammond is telling tales about his fantastic headed goal that kept Stevenage in the FA Cup at Port Vale. In this one the keeper is just happy with his two saves in the penalty shoot-out.

Boro were 2-0 down with nine minutes to play  when Harvey White pulled one back at Vale Park.

Kane Hemmings then equalised in the sixth minute of stoppage time to send the second round replay to extra-time.

But even there, it needed a Nathan Thompson equaliser on 119 minutes to make it 3-3 and keep Boro in the tie, allowing Ashby-Hammond to send Boro through.

In his head though, the goalkeeper had a different outcome planned.

"Oh I was thinking about [going up for a late corner] for sure," he said. "I was visualising a powerful header that was going in.

"I think I would have been less confident had it actually happened but you always dream of the best moments happening. 

"I’ll take how the game ended."

That was a save from Ben Garrity and then another from Ryan Loft, the last one enough to leave the shoot-out 4-3 in Boro's favour and send them to Maidstone.

But even then, there was drama for the former Fulham man.

He said: "I always back myself but I had a bottle with all their names and which way they would go. 

"Their goalie chucked it in the stands so I had no bottle to refer to. 

"So we had a little laugh as I was diving the right way every time anyway. 

"I’ve never actually used a bottle with notes before but [Ian Pledger] was on it. I saw that for one penalty and then it was gone. 

"I’m happy to contribute to the team’s performance. It was a great result and I’m glad we’re into the next round. 

"The FA Cup is a special competition and every extra round we make is very exciting to be part of. 

"It’ll be tough in the next round but hopefully we can get through." 

READ MORE: Steve Evans stays calm as character sends Stevenage through

READ MORE: The recap after the 3-3 FA Cup draw at Port Vale, with Stevenage winning on penalties

As for the match itself, he was pleased and not surprised at the fighting spirit shown.

He said: "It’s the first time I’ve played extra-time in a cup tie so it was a long night. 

"The boys dug in, we didn’t get to grips with the game and it wasn’t the most impeccable performance from us. 

"But it just shows the spirit of the team and the club, we just kept digging in and got two late goals. 

"I was just communicating with the back four, telling them to keep pushing and keeping their spirits up. 

"Not that they need it. The team has that quality."