GOALKEEPER Drew Brabbs headed in a stoppage-time equaliser and then proved a penalty shoot-out hero as Huntington Rovers beat champions Wigginton Grasshoppers to book their place in tonight’s York Minster Engineering League Cup final.

Huntington will meet first division title-winners Thorpe United at Tockwith (kick-off 7pm) after they also pulled off a shock by defeating top-flight runners-up Old Malton St Mary’s.

During a well-contested 90 minutes at Huntington, Owen Marshall twice came close to heading Wiggy in front, only to be denied by Brabbs on both occasions.

Ashley Hill and Liam Flanagan also had chances at the other end but were kept at bay by Craig Camidge.

A goal-less first half led to both teams looking to attack after the break and Rovers had the better of the next 15 minutes with Flanagan and James Edmond going close.

But the visitors began to get on top again after the hour mark and, following several chances that went begging, finally took the lead when 16-year-old substitute Jamie Higginbotham crossed a precision ball in from the left for Matthew Tiplady to apply a tremendous finish from eight yards.

It looked like Grasshoppers were going to see the match out and set up the chance to gain the local league treble, but Rovers had other ideas and a long ball, that evaded the otherwise faultless visitors’ back four, found Chris Dyson, who required no invitation to blast the ball home from close range.

With only a minute to go on the clock, it appeared that penalties were on the cards, but not before further drama.

From the resulting kick-off, Wiggy piled forward and Neale Holmes lashed home a howitzer of a finish from 25 yards that left Brabbs with no chance.

Even so, with just three minutes of added-on time remaining, Huntington threw everything forward and, in the final seconds, Brabbs powered in an unstoppable header from a Rovers’ free-kick to set up the shoot-out.

After the Rovers keeper saved a Wigginton spot kick, Josh Whaite then secured victory in sudden death.

Thorpe’s victory was more comfortable with James Wileman, James Barrett and Kevin Simpson all on target during a 3-1 triumph.

Tomorrow night, meanwhile, Thorpe will also meet Tockwith in the Reserve Cup final at Wigginton (kick-off 7pm).

Thorpe’s Jay Smyth earned them a 1-0 win over Hemingbrough United, while Ben Calverley’s goal for F1 Racing proved nothing more than a consolation as Tockwith gained a 2-1 success to set up a shot at the trophy.