Gary Harvey’s Sudbury were a pale shadow of the team that has dominated the Eastern Counties Premier this season, and they needed a late penalty to clinch a 2-1 victory over big-hearted Bedlington Terriers in front of a crowd of 1,207.

"I was very disappointed," said Harvey afterwards. "Too many of our players just didn’t turn up today. "We started well enough, but then faded. They out-muscled us for long periods and we didn’t cope with their nippy front-runners as well as we should have."

Bedlington manager Keith Perry was clearly upset to have conceded the lead for the second time in the 90th minute and felt it was a case of what might have been.

"Sudbury had a lot of possession, but I felt we had the clearer chances," he mused. "I think we got stronger as the match went on. We could even have nicked it. But that’s the way it goes."

Sudbury began with swagger and confidence against hesitant opponents and forced six corners in as many minutes. The opening goal came from a long throw - Andrew Claydon’s well directed header looping into the net from Terry Rayner’s unerring flick.

But despite making most of the running it was Bedlington on the counter who created the better opportunities. First Dean Greygoose was forced into an instinctive save from Steve Preen’s rasping drive and then Shane Wardley needed a cool head to deflect another Preen strike off the line with his goalkeeper beaten.

Preen made a nuisance of himself again when he dispossessed Wardley and fed Kevin Walton whose header flashed across the face of goal.

Sudbury were less effective in front of goal, but Gary Bennett oozed quality and energy in midfield and the strong, pacy Clayton proved a handful for the Bedlington defence.

The longer the game went though, the greater was Bedlington’s resolve. With James Harmison - urged on by elder brother and England pace bowler Steve - proving a tower of strength in an uncompromising back four and McAlindon’s influence in midfield waxing, John Milner twice squandered the chance of an equaliser.

The introduction of Sam Banya for Sudbury has usually resulted in pyrotechnics this season - the powerful striker was the difference in the quarter final against Stourbridge and also netted in the 4-2 (Ridgeons) Eastern Counties League Cup extra time win over Lowestoft ten days ago.

But it was Bedlington substitute Mickey Cross who made the immediate impact, his weighted pass falling into the path of Milner who drilled home in the 79th minute.

Sudbury were shaken and Bedlington might even have taken the lead soon after when Anthony Shadran fed James Lang, who shot narrowly wide.

But Banya rarely fails to make a contribution - 22 goals this season in all competitions attest to that - and when his header was adjudged to have been handled on the line by Colin Morton, dead ball specialist Lee Norfolk stepped up give Sudbury a precious lead in the tie.

"They can expect another tough game when they come up to ours," said Bedlington’s Perry.

"I don’t think the surface will suit them. It’s a big pitch with a slope. It could be a big advantage to us.

"Like Sudbury, we like to play to feet, but it wasn’t lost on me that the ball was in the air a lot today and we dealt with it better."

Harvey was equally upbeat. "We’re a better away side than at home," he said.

"There’s a lot of expectation playing here and I think the lads feel it.

"We know it’s going to be difficult to play football on their pitch – it’s a bumpy surface – but we seem to save some of our best performances for The Vase."

A record crowd of 1,512 witnessed Didcot Town’s narrow 1-0 win over Jarrow Roofing.

The Hellenic League outfit’s lead going into the second leg might have been greater but for some inspired work from former Doncaster and Bury ‘keeper Gary Hoggeth and a fiercely determined Jarrow defence who hung on grimly in the latter stages.

"It was a hard game and we were up against a good side - but I’ll take that result," said Jarrow manager Ritchie McLaughlin. "I thought we defended well and even created a few good chances."

Didcot’s manager, Stuart Pearce was could not disguise his chagrin. "My team is capable of playing a lot better. It’s been a disappointing day. It was very frustrating. We created a lot of half chances, but couldn’t finish them off."

But he was more upbeat when considering the second leg.

"We’ve had a good look at them now and are familiar with how they play. I’m confident we can clinch it next weekend. We were missing a couple of key players today - Bradley Ward and Dave Green - but I’m confident they’ll be back for the second leg."

The only goal of the game came 12 minutes into the second half, when Jamie Heapy struck a sweet shot from 20 yards that found its way into the bottom corner.

Though Didcot enjoyed possession for long periods they were unable to break through again. Cooper shaved the crossbar from long range and sub Hoey hit a post but Hoggeth was dominant between the posts and equal to everything else Didcot threw at him.

Jarrow themselves were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet - a header from Andy Davies hitting the bar and Paul Kelly’s 25 yard thump forcing David Webb into a fine save.