John Walker reports on the Huntingdonshire FA Junior Cup Final at the Premier Plus Stadium.

Final score: Needingworth United 3 - Hartford Rangers 2.

Four minutes into added time, Needingworth snatched a dramatic winning goal as a penalty shoot-out loomed.

It was the third time they had led with favourites Hartford coming back twice to level but this time there was to be no come-back.

Now third in the table Hartford must concentrate on their push for promotion with games in hand of the top two. It was the third meeting of the two sides with each now winning once with the third drawn.

Hartford looked the better side in the opening half hour with better possession, but they lacked penetration through a well drilled opposing defence.

Then after 32 minutes in a counter-attack, Needingworth won a free kick and a Kyle Crook header from a Jake Shepherd free kick opened the scoring. Hartford responded in time added at the end of the half when Reece Page levelled the scores.

The second half was more open with both sides sending on substitutes in search of further goals. After 50 minutes Needingworth regained the lead when Ben Page converted from a corner and that signalled a spell of Hartford pressure, but the opposing defence held firm.

With fifteen minutes left, Tommy Dear levelled the scores and then extra time looked likely. However, that dramatic late winner from Ben Carter saw Needingworth snatch victory.

Needingworth: Perring, Lever, Crook, Cox, Baker, Bonson, Carter, Whitehead, Thompson, Shepherd, Page (B)

Subs: Scrimshaw, Burman, Beeson, Gifford, Roberts

Cards: Gifford (Y – 71 mins)

Hartford: Driver (G), Abel, Driver (B), Martin, Dean, Goddard, Francis, Major, Page (R), Dear (T), Dear (A)

Subs: Stevenson, Chubb, Holman, Flisher, Hope

Cards: Dean (Y – 42 mins)

Referee: Josh Crofts