Cars and coaches were packed with Whitley supporters who donned their blue and white scarves to cheer on the favourites to lift the trophy.

Banter between the two sides kicked off as soon as the north east fans arrived at the Crown Meadow ground for a pre-match pint or two, with the Trawlerboys welcoming the away fans with chants typical of any football stadium.

But Whitley gave as good as they got and lapped up the atmosphere inside the clubhouse and ground.

Some fans travelled on Good Friday and spent the night in Lowestoft preparing for the game before hand, others braved the six-hour journey down the east coast on the morning of the game to make sure they had their spot pitchside.

Inside the Lowestoft Town clubhouse the FA Vase was available for fans to have their picture taken.

Kids were overjoyed at seeing the piece of silverware that Whitley were favourites to take home, more suspicious fans were not as keen to touch the trophy in fear of jinxing the result.

Those who woke up in Lowestoft on Saturday were welcomed with a bitterly cold wind, rain and snow, and games throughout Suffolk were postponed due to the adverse weather conditions.

The Whitley Bay squad stayed over night in Peterborough before making their way to the ground.

However, it would have benefited no one for Saturday's game to be called off and groundsmen at Crown Meadow were up at 6am tending to the pitch to make sure the match went ahead.

Right up until the kick-off Whitley and Lowestoft fans were exchanging friendly taunts, but come 3pm their focus was the football and the hundreds of Whitley supporters dotted around the stadium were right behind their team.

But the game didn't go to plan, and the confidence of the Whitley Bay fans prior to kick-off soon soured as they found themselves 3-0 and a man down by half-time.

But the fans still maintained their loyalty and supported them until the final whistle.

Whitley Bay now need to win this Saturday's second leg at Hillheads by four goals to force a penalty shoot-out for a chance to live their Wembley dream – and their record this season is evidence it is not an impossible task.

Lowestoft, now favourites in the competition, have conceded four goals or more on ten occasions this season, which means Whitley Bay have the potential to cause an almighty upset and snatch a place in the final on May 11.

The feeling amongst most fans is that Bay can still do it.

And Whitley Bay players and officials and are urging the public to get their tickets for Hillheads on Saturday and get behind the team.