READING YMCA Rockets suffered penalty heartbreak as they were beaten by FC Beaconsfield in the final of the Norfolkian Junior Cup.

The veteran YM squad boasted more than 1,500 appearances for the club, so experience was not in short supply on the night, but they were defeated 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw following extra time.

The opposition were younger and fitter and had the benefit of playing every week, while Rockets only play in cups.

Beaconsfield took the game to YM from the off and penned them into their own half for long periods.

When Reading did get the ball it was given away quickly, and Beaconsfield should have put the game to bed but for some superb last ditch defending and an outstanding goalkeeping display from Luke Howroyd.

Beaconsfield did take the lead on 25 minutes, however, with a long-range free-kick that was slammed into the roof of the net.

Rockets continued to toil but in their rare visits into Beaconsfield territory, set-pieces looked a source of danger and Ben Green nearly levelled the scores when his header from a Matty Bicknell corner was cleared off the line.

The second half was much more of an even affair with the front line of Martin Abery, Drew Tipper and James Atkinson beginning to pose problems.

Set pieces still looked YM’s best route back into the game and after a number of free-kicks and corners caused panic in the Beaconsfield area, a great ball from Bicknell found Tipper ghosting in at the back post to tap home.

With 25 minutes remaining Beaconsfield upped the pressure again and by this point Rockets needed all their resilience to hang on with several players out on their feet.

The defence were immense but Luke and Orlando Jeffrey – who made some crucial interventions – were particularly excellent.

A big moment came in the 80th minute when Atkinson robbed a Beaconsfield defender to go clean through on goal, but the goalkeeper came out well and his shot was saved.

The game went into extra time and Beaconsfield soon took the lead again when a floated corner was expertly volleyed into the net.

This could have been the cue for the Rockets to cave in, but they once again equalised when another fantastic delivery from Bicknell was bundled into the goal by Abery.

With Rockets holding on to take the game to the lottery of a shoot-out, Green, Tipper and Steve Woodrow scored before their opponents replied.

Orlando Jeffrey took the fourth skied the fourth spot-kick allowing Beaconsfield to take the lead, and despite Bicknell holding his nerve, the opposition did well to grab a thrilling victory.