However, the four-goal deficit from the first leg eventually proved just too much and it was Lowestoft who were able to celebrate as they booked their place at Wembley in May.

More than 2,000 spectators packed into Hillheads on a wet and windy afternoon and after 21 minutes, the great majority must have dared to believe that Whitley were about to achieve what a BBC TV reporter had called 'mission impossible'.

With the rain that had arrived an hour before kick-off blowing almost horizontally across the ground, Whitley attacked right from the whistle and they made the start they had been dreaming of.

Lee Picton had recovered from injury and Brian Smith was brought into the starting line-up and it was they who brought about the first goal.

Barely four minutes had been played when Picton took a long throw into the penalty area where Smith got the slightest of touches with his head and the ball flew past a stationary Andy Reynolds in the home goal to give Whitley the crucial first goal.

Roared on by the crowd, Whitley poured forward and just five minutes later they went two up.

Paul Robinson collected the ball in midfield, advanced a few yards and then unleashed a superb 30-yard shot that dipped under the bar with Reynolds a spectator.

The Lowestoft keeper was a surprise inclusion in the side having been carried off on a stretcher in the first leg with what had been described as a dislocated hip.

He did not seem fully mobile and was being put under constant pressure as Whitley swarmed forward on all fronts.

Chris Moore was outpacing his marker on the right wing, Picton was doing the same on the left, while Robinson was mesmerising the visitors with superb close control in midfield.

It was Robinson who tried another shot from distance after 14 minutes but this time the ball went over the bar.

Picton, who was badly missed in the first leg, was creating havoc in the visitors' defence with his long throw-ins and in the 21st minute, he was the architect of the third goal when his throw from the right was headed on by Smith to the back post where Paul Chow headed the ball home from close range.

The Lowestoft fans who had been creating plenty of noise before the game were now silenced as the roar of the home crowd grew louder as they urged Whitley on.

Lowestoft eventually managed to break away after 24 minutes in what was effectively their first attack but a cross shot from the right went high over the bar.

A minute later, Whitley might have brought the tie level when a corner was headed on to Kerr beyond the back post.

He quickly hit the ball into the goalmouth where Chow stretched and scooped it over the bar from about three yards.

Lowestoft were struggling to clear their lines but a free kick awarded 25 yards out saw Neil Plaskett fire wide for the visitors.

Whitley kept pressing forward and it looked only a matter of time before they would score again as Chow twice had shots cleared by the over stretched Lowestoft defence.

Just before the interval, another long throw from Picton was punched clear by Reynolds and when the whistle went, Whitley left the field to thunderous applause after totally dominating the first half.

After the break, Chow volleyed over the bar from a long kick out of goal by Burke, Picton saw a shot deflected wide then the increasingly immobile Reynolds brought off a great diving save to deny Chow when a goal seemed certain.

The keeper needed attention following the save and appeared to be struggling badly but he remained on the pitch.

To the surprise of many in the crowd, Chow was taken off after 64 minutes and was replaced by Anthony Woodhouse.

Still Whitley kept up the pressure and from Robinson's right wing corner, Smith hooked the ball just wide of the near post.

Gradually, Lowestoft restricted the openings that had come so freely earlier in the game and they grew in confidence as the minutes ticked away.

In contrast, and maybe as a consequence, Whitley's play lost some of its flow and the grip on midfield weakened, with the ball being pumped upfield rather than passed to feet.

Terry Burke, who had been a spectator for much of the game, needed to be alert in the 78th minute when he had to dive to hold on to a shot from Darren Cockerill.

Back came the Bay and Reynolds was again in pain as he could not hold a shot from Robinson, but when the ball ran loose, he did well to block Kerr's effort.

For all their efforts and total domination of the game, Whitley could not break down an increasingly resolute Lowestoft side.

Late efforts from Kerr and captain Coulson failed to get the goal that would have taken the game into extra-time and the referee's final whistle signalled heartbreak for Whitley and their supporters while the visiting fans invaded the pitch to celebrate with their battle weary players.

Whitley Bay: Burke, Taylor, Picton, Smith, Coulson, Graham, Moore (Minto 75 mins), Robson, Chow (Woodhouse 64 mins), Kerr, Robinson.

Whitley now face a ten match run-in to the season and must overcome their FA Vase disappointment quickly if they are to retain any hope of retaining the Northern League title.

Durham City are within three wins of the title, but if Whitley can put pressure on the leaders with victories in their next three games then nerves may get to the City players.

With challengers Consett fading in recent weeks, Whitley should hold on to second place if they can maintain their form but a busy programme will need all members of Ian Chandler's squad to play their part.

After Tuesday evening's game at home to West Auckland, Whitley travel to in-form West Allotment on Friday evening.

Next week sees away games at Tow Law Town on Tuesday and Northallerton on Thursday before Spennymoor Town are the visitors to Hillheads on Saturday, April 12.

Given the tremendous entertainment provided for the big crowd on Saturday, Whitley Bay deserve the support of many of these new fans on a regular basis.