Michael Richardson was the hero as his dramatic last-minute goal saw Hebburn Town advance to the FA Vase Quarter Finals.

With the game edging towards a penalty shootout, Richardson fired home after 89 minutes to the delight of the home side.

Town came into this fixture on the back of a shock midweek Durham Challenge Cup defeat to Birtley Town. The Hornets were also without last week’s match winner Michael McKeown who missed out through injury.

Congleton arrived in South Tyneside following a 1-0 win over Malvern Town in the previous round. The Cheshire side were able to include former Welsh international Richard Duffy in their starting line-up.

The first half offered little in the way of entertainment. Hebburn’s best chance came after 30 minutes through a Robbie Spence header. Stanley Tatters and William Buckley also missed half chances for the visitors.

The game livened up after the break and Hebburn were unlucky not to open the scoring when Amer Purewal narrowly headed over the bar just after the restart.

The away side then had two glorious chances to take the lead. Arron Johns somehow fired over the bar after a one on one with Mark Foden in the home goal after 53 minutes.

Just under 10 minutes later Congleton centre forward Daniel Cope came agonisingly close to connecting to a great cross from the left wing.

As the spectre of penalties began to loom, the home side finally made the breakthrough. Substitute Jack Lambert crossed the ball in from the left wing to Richardson at the back post who nestled the ball into the corner of the net, securing the victory and their place in the next round.

Hebburn’s focus will now shift to their date at Wembley as they prepare to finally contest the rearranged 2019/20 FA Vase Final against fellow Northern League side Consett on May 3 in what will be the biggest game in the Hornet’s history.

Line up’s –

Hebburn Town –

M. Foden, D. Groves, D. Lough, R. Spence, L. Storey ( C ), D. Carson, T. Potter, G. Armstrong, M. Richardson, A, Purewal, D. Mullen.

Subs used –
O. Martin
J. Lambert

Congleton Town –
D. Parton, C. Baker, A. Morris, E. Graves ( C ), R. Duffy, J. Ryder, W. Buckley, J. Beaumont, D. Cope, A. Johns, S. Tatters

Subs used-
O. Jepson
A. Griffith