WORCESTER City’s Wembley dream was ended in heartbreaking fashion as Great Wakering Rovers held their nerve from the spot to win a dramatic penalty shootout in the semi-final of the Isuzu FA Vase.

Jake Gordon’s sublime volley made it 1-1 overall to cancel our Elliot Hartley’s winner in the first-leg but Dylan Hart’s header mid-way through the first-half put City back ahead on aggregate.

But the game was on a knife edge and twice the hosts had a goal disallowed before substitute Max Gnandi fired into the far corner seven minutes from time to send the tie to penalties.

The hosts blinked first when Billy Johnson crashed his spot kick against the bar, only for City’s Kyle Belmonte to scuff his effort wide of the post.

The shootout went to sudden death and Calvin Dinsley converted his penalty, but Great Wakering keeper Luis Shousham proved to be the hero as he saved Chris Knight’s kick to send the hosts to Wembley and spark wild celebrations amongst the home support.

City players were visibly dejected but the 400 travelling fans who made the long trip from Worcestershire were in fine voice at the end of the game in attempts to raise their side.

City - now official Hellenic League Premier chanpions - will now have to lick their wounds and prepare for Tuesday’s Hellenic League Premier clash with rivals Worcester Raiders at Sixways.