A brave second-half performance was not enough for Needham Market as they suffered an agonising FA Vase semi-final defeat on Saturday.

A Matt Walwyn goal in the second minute of injury time sealed the Bloomfields-based outfit's fate as they were edged out 4-2 on aggregate in what proved to be a nail-biting but ultimately devastating afternoon for Needham supporters.

Trailing 3-2 – after being hit by two late goals in the first leg – the Reds were always going to be up against it when they took to a heavy pitch under windy conditions. Suddenly, Kirkham's slender one-goal lead was a real advantage.

With Wembley beckoning for the winner, both sides looked nervous in the opening stages – the frantic action void of any real quality.

After the hosts had forced a series of set-pieces in the Kirkham half, the visitors – with a strong wind behind them – took the game by the scruff of the neck and could have killed the tie off by half-time.

Ben Wake allowed a long ball to bounce over his head and Sean Paterson raced through with only Liam Jones to beat. However, the Needham shot-stopper superbly smothered the ball to deny Kirkham's top goalscorer.

Jones was called into action again two minutes later. Stand-in captain Paul Eastwood, who spent much of the game in an entertaining tussle against his counterpart Mark Bailey, saw his dipping effort well tipped over.

The Reds improved dramatically after the break. Danny Thrower burst through on goal, but – in a bid to use his favoured left foot – took an age to shoot and Jon Moffat slid in with a last gasp tackle.

From the resulting corner, Craig Parker hit a sweetly struck half-volley towards the top corner, only for left-back Tony Keefe to deny him with an acrobatic clearance off the line.

Roared on by a record 1,375-strong crowd, Needham continued to surge forward. Substitutes Nathan Szyszlyk and Glenn Snell, replacing Thrower and Tommy Smith, both looked a threat and the latter almost broke the deadlock on 68 minutes.

A rare period of incisive passing put the striker through but his low strike from a tight-angle crashed into the side-netting.

The same player – so reliable in front of goal throughout this season – had Needham's last chance on 82 minutes.

He seemed destined to tuck the ball home from close range, but Kirkham keeper Pete Summerfield just got a touch to deflect the ball narrowly wide.

While not at their best, it was a monumental effort by the home side and it was no wonder Needham looked jaded in the final stages.

In contrast, the Lancashire side looked fresh and sharp.

Jones made two good saves but could do nothing to prevent the winner. Substitutes Rick Allen and Walwyn combined well for the latter to side-foot home.

As Kirkham celebrated wildly, Needham players sank to their knees in disbelief and despair. The dream was over.

The hard-fought battle was marred late in injury time when Snell received his marching orders following a nasty two-footed tackle on Keefe.

So, Needham's dreams were crushed, but the memories of what has been a fairytale cup run, will surely live on for many years at Bloomfields.

Needham Market: Liam Jones, Lewis Pemberton, Ben Wake, Richard Butler, Rhys Barber, James Evans, Jay Denniss (Glenn Snell 56), Mark Bailey (captain), Craig Parker, Danny Thrower (Nathan Szyszlyk), Tommy Smith (Matt Buckle 75).

Kirkham & Wesham: Summerfield, Jackson, Keefe, Thompson, Moffat, Eastwood (captain), Clark, Smith, Blackwell (Allen 45), Wane, Paterson (Walwyn 70).

Attendance: 1,375.