AT LAST! IT'S WEMBLEY BUZZ FOR HORNETS

THEY had to wait six months for this moment but ten-man Hebburn Town will never forget their colossal tussle to reach Wembley.

- David Richardson

The Hornets swept past Plymouth Parkway 190 days ago to reach this stage for the first time in their history only to be left wondering if they’d be able to finish their business.

Was it worth the wait? Hebburn manager Kevin Bolam will have needed a lie-down and a Nurofen after this epic tie that swung one way and then the next, eventually decided when Corinthian’s Louie Clarke blazed his penalty out of the ground.

“I went through every single emotion you can think of today,” he told The NLP. “But we wouldn’t be denied. We’ve gone down to ten men but still played on the front foot.

“Equalised with ten men, went ahead. Maybe for two dubious penalty decisions we would have won it in normal time. I’m proud and over the moon for the lads and everyone behind the scenes. Over the course of the 120 minutes we’ve deserved it.”

Corinthian, of the Southern Counties East League, still an amateur side, meaning none of their players get paid a penny, deserve immense credit for their part in this historic clash.