Hebburn suffered play off heartbreak at the hands of Long Eaton United at The Green Energy Sports Ground, with the visitors winning 3-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw.

In the early stages, Hebburn tried numerous long balls to Amar Purewal but were unable to find the right weight on the pass.

The first real chance fell Hebburn’s way when a ninth minute cross wasn’t cleared, with the ball falling to Arron Thompson whose low effort was saved by Ross Durrant with his legs at the neat post.

It was Long Eaton that got their noses in front on 14, when a free kick into the box was headed down and Jamie Walker applied the finish from two yards out.

At the midway point of the first half, Walker fired a 25-yard free kick over the wall but it was straight at Shaun Newbrook who made a comfortable save.

On 25 minutes, Dan Groves played Olly Martin in down the left-hand side and his ball was fizzed across the face of goal, but just evaded a Hebburn touch.

A minute later Joe Walton almost levelled proceedings with a low strike from outside the area that was well pushed away by Durrant.

Ashiah Fearon then worked his way into the box on 28, but some last ditch defending denied him the chance to get a clear shot away.

After 36 minutes Robbie Spence dinked a ball in from the right and found Purewal in space, but his free header was narrowly wide.

A couple of minutes before the break, Martin went on a determined run and broke through a couple of challenges but couldn’t force the ball beyond Durrant.

In the final of three added minutes at the end of the first period, the visitors doubled their advantage when a corner wasn’t cleared and as Walker swung the ball back into the area it went straight into the net.

Hebburn had an early chance to reduce the arrears after the break when Purewal broke clear but couldn’t get a shot away and it was turned behind for a corner, from which Tom Devitt rose highest but headed narrowly wide.

On 57, Groves attempted a shot from a bouncing ball but his effort was high and wide.

Two minutes later at the other end Tom Marshall tried an audacious effort from distance that had Newbrook worried, but his effort landed on top of the net.

Hebburn reduced the arrears on 66, when a cross from the left was headed down for Spence to turn home.

On 72 Fearon stabbed a low effort from close range, which Newbrook saved with his legs, and they almost extended their lead with a glancing header from the resulting corner.

Martin broke clear for Hebburn after 74, but the ball wouldn’t fall right for him and he could only stab a tame effort at Durrant.

After 82, Jack Donaghy launched a long throw in which fell for Martin, but he blasted his effort over the top.

Tom Cursons then twisted and turned in the area before forcing Newbrook into a point-blank save.

There was further drama to come deep into stoppage time when a scramble in the box landed at Daniel Moore’s feet, with the player-manager poking home a dramatic equaliser.

McCamley again came close at the beginning of extra time, whilst Curson’s effort was then spilled by Newbrook who recovered well.

Moore then flicked an effort goalwards for Hebburn, but Durrant pushed the ball behind from underneath the bar.

On 101, Newbrook did well to push away an in-swinging corner that almost found the net.

In the second period of extra time, Moore tried his luck on the half volley soon after kick-off, but the ball fell harmlessly into Durrant’s arms.

The last goalmouth action of note came when Donaghy’s cross bypassed everyone and almost found the corner, but no winner could be found and the game headed to penalties.

Newbrook saved from Ben Hutchinson and Ryan Bertram fired over the bar, however three Durrant saves from Spence, Thompson and McCamley sealed Long Eaton’s place in the play-off final.

Hebburn Town: Newbrook, Devitt, Groves, Reid, Donaghy, Thompson, Hackett, Spence, Purewal (Henderson 54’), Martin (Moore 82’), Walton (McCamley 64’)

Unused subs: Murray, Phillips

Goals: Spence (66’) Moore (90+6’)

Bookings: Spence (90+4’), McCamley (104’)

Long Eaton United: Durrant, Wilson, Parker, Gordon (Bertram 85’), Walker, Cox, Fearon, Minkley (Hutchinson 90+4’), Alex Marshall (Cursons 59’), Tom Marshall, Walker

Unused subs: King, Jebbison

Goals: Walker (14’, 45+3’)

Bookings: Wilson (87’), Hutchinson (119’), Bertram (120+2’)

MOTM: Robbie Spence

Referee: Jamie Cann

Attendance: 631