North Shields 2 Highworth 0 (North Shields win 3-0 on aggregate).

FA Vase specialist Gareth Bainbridge returned to the team and helped fire North Shields to Wembley on Saturday.

Bainbridge, who had scored 15 goals in the competition before Saturday, settled the Northern League side’s nerves with a crucial opening goal in the second leg to put them 2-0 up on aggregate, and set them on their way to their first appearance at Wembley for 46 years.

But there was controversy in the second half when Highworth claimed that a free kick went over the line after the ball hit the crossbar.

Manager Graham Fenton, who played at Wembley for Aston Villa in 1994, said; “Highworth started better and we just didn’t settle, but I thought we were better in the second half, especially when we got the goal and they had to come out.

“I thought their free kick went in from our angle, but sometimes you just need that little bit of luck, so it’s unfortunate for Highworth.

“I’m really delighted for the lads because they’re such a good bunch to work with and I know what weekends at Wembley are like, because they’re some of the best weekends you could have in your life.

“There’s no point in getting there if you’re not going to try your best to win it. We’ll be doing everything we can to win the game, but hopefully it’s not as windy as Saturday.”

There weren’t many chances at all in a windspoilt first 30 minutes, but then Shields started to create chances. Michael McKeown fired just wide, and Bainbridge was just off target with a header.

Ben Richardson also put an effort off target as the tension mounted.

Highworth came more into the game in the second half, and they nearly took levelled on aggregate when Bradley Clarke and John Davoile tried their luck from long distance, and were just over.

The Wiltshire side nearly broke through on 69 minutes when a free kick by xxx hit the underside of the bar, and Shields just managed to get the ball away.

Shields grabbed some breathing space on 76 minutes when Shields worked a corner kick on the left, and when the ball went into the middle, Highworth keeper couldn’t hold on to the ball, and it ran for Bainbridge to curl in from twelve yards.

And the celebrations really began when the keeper failed to hold xx Carr’s low shot, and Dean Holmes was on hand to tap into the net from a few yards.

Shields will now play Glossop in the final on May 9th, their second appearance at Wembley having won the Amateur Cup there in 1969.

They have made great progress this season, considering that they were only promoted from the Northern League second division last season, and weren’t even quoted in the Vase odds early on by one bookmaker.

The North West Counties League side, who got to Wembley in 2009 only to lose to Whitley Bay, lost 1-0 at home to St Austell, but won 2-1 on aggregate.