In a tight, full-blooded contest at Craik Park, Morpeth between two in-form sides where the result could have gone either way, there was late heartbreak for Wallington in the Team Valley Carpets Challenge Cup Final when AFC Newbiggin substitute Dylan McGill fired home a 91st minute winner just as the game looked destined to go to penalties.

AFC Newbiggin started on the front foot with pacy winger Matty Nelson's weaving run into the box earning his side an early corner that was punched away from goal by Aaron Carr before being cleared into touch by a defender.

Although they enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first 10 minutes, Carr wasn't really tested with anything more than routine.

Wallington then got a foothold in the game, creating a string of chances most of which fell to top-scorer Jordan Nellis.

Picking up a through ball from full back Kyle Reardon on half-way, Nellis spotted Robert Hodgson was off his line and immediately launched a speculative long range effort that flew just wide of the post much to the keeper's relief. He had a first-time left-footed shot saved low down by Hodgson before curling a 30 yard free-kick about a foot over the angle of post and bar, and then, after the ball was cut back by younger brother Keelan, he fired one low beyond the far post.

At the other end, Nelson continued to look dangerous every time he picked up the ball but there was no end product.

Both teams were then guilty of wasting corners and free-kicks with some poor deliveries.

On 34 minutes, Newbiggin put themselves under pressure after losing possession when attempting to play out from the back. A dipping cross was tipped over the bar by Hodgson at full stretch and, from the resulting Micky Angus set-piece delivery, Ben Middleton had a shot blocked with the rebound fired wide by central defender Curtis Williamson.

They had another narrow escape in the 42nd minute when Hodgson sprinted off his line to gather an under-hit back pass just before Angus got there.

Straight down the other end, the best chance of the half fell to Newbiggin centre forward and top-scorer Brad Higgins who got on the end of full back Jack Livingstone's pinpoint cross and saw his firm header brilliantly saved by Carr diving to his right with the rebound fired over from close range by Luke Heppell.

On the stroke of half-time, a 35 yard Angus free-kick from a central position was headed over his own bar by a defender but yet another corner came to nothing when Angus's delivery sailed over the heads of his teammates in the box.

Soon after the re-start, a poor clearance by Carr went straight to Heppell who sent a first-time effort narrowly wide of the post.

After that let-off, Wallington were in the ascendancy for the next 10 minutes but couldn't capitalise. Pressing down the right, Keelan Nellis linked up well with older brother Jordan who turned his man and fired a 30 yard left-footed effort over the bar. Down the other flank, Jordan got the better of the last defender but, with only the keeper to beat, over-ran the ball and Hodgson was able to clear.

Angus should have given his side the lead on 55 minutes at the end of a slick move which sliced open the Newbiggin defence. The final ball into the box to Jordan Nellis was unselfishly squared to Angus in space but, with only Hodgson to beat, the winger dragged his shot wide of the far post.

As the game started to open up, it was Newbiggin who spurned the next opportunity. Higgins delivered a perfectly-weighted through ball to central defender Rhyan Clark who forced Carr into making a great point blank save, with the follow-up effort cleared off the line. That proved to be Clark's last involvement in the game as, soon after, he limped off with a leg injury and was replaced by Liam Stokoe.

Newbiggin were awarded a penalty in the 68th minute by referee Richard Goodman after the ever dangerous Nelson raced onto a through ball in the box and was dragged down by a defender. Higgins stepped up and struck it firmly but Carr made a brilliant save diving to his right, sparking jubilant scenes on the Wallington bench who must have thought at that stage it was going to be their night.

A few minutes after the penalty miss, Newbiggin's defence was carved open down the left as Jordan Nellis and Angus combined well before the ball was fed across to Keelan Nellis who saw his first-time 15 yard angled drive blocked by Hodgson;'s legs.

Both sides then made a string of substitutions as the clock ticked down.

Peter Roberts headed clear a free-kick and corner in quick succession, while, at the other end, a curling cross from Sheldon White picked out an unmarked Jordan Nellis 10 yards from goal but his free header sailed over the bar.

Wallington then failed to take advantage of three corners in as many minutes before disaster struck in the first minute of stoppage time. 

Stokoe's 25 yard cross from the right-hand side looped over the static defensive line and was met on the volley by 21-year-old Dylan McGill who had timed his run to perfection. His crisp strike flew past Carr to spark wild celebrations (1-0).

Wallington left gaps at the back as threw everybody forward in search of an equaliser and almost conceded a second goal in the dying seconds when a Higgins half-volley flashed just wide of Carr's left-hand post.

This was AFC Newbiggin's 17th trophy in the club's history since being re-formed in 2010, with 20-year-old Luke Heppell becoming their youngest ever captain to lift some silverware.

Speaking after the game which attracted a record Northern Alliance Cup Final crowd of 400, he said: ''The lads are absolutely buzzing especially after winning it so late on and having to work so hard throughout the game against a strong Wallington side. We really appreciate the big support we received and it definitely helped to motivate myself and the rest of the team.''

The teams will meet again next month in the Northumberland FA Benevolent Bowl Final at Whitley Park, Benton.

Wallington's midweek cup final defeat to AFC Newbiggin was only the second time they had failed to score in 27 games this season but Trevor Baston's side got back on track on Saturday with a 3-2 home win against Gateshead Rutherford in the Bay Plastics Northern Alliance Premier Division to extend their lead at the top of the table over nearest rivals Alnwick Town to 11pts.

Chris Hibbitt scored twice for Pointeland United who won 2-1 at home to Hebburn Town Reserves, while Haltwhistle Jubilee lost 4-1 at West Moor & Jesmond AFC. In the Marsh Sports Insurance Third Division, Prudhoe YC Seniors Reserves made it five wins in a row against league leaders Wallsend Boys Club U23s. Their goals in a 5-2 victory were scored by David Burns (2), Steven Forster, Steven Knox and Dylan Turnbull.

In Ebac Northern League Division Two, Prudhoe YC Seniors led 2-0 after 35 minutes at Jarrow through goals from Sam & Ben Dibb-Fuller before having to settle for a 2-2 draw.