FIN Watts saved two penalties as Whitton United reached the CNet Training Suffolk Senior Cup Final.

The six-times winners edged past first-time semi-finalists Tattingtstone United 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw at the Martello Ground, home of Felixstowe & Walton United, on Friday night.

Tattingstone’s Marius Aitkens, Ivan Buxton and Jadyn Huggins all scored, but Watts dived low to his left to save from both Jordan Cork and Charlie Snowling.

And with Jake Dolden, Tyo Parnell, Mason Ransome and Tom Watkins all converting their spot kicks, it was the Thurlow Nunn League Division One North side who progressed to the final at Portman Road.

Isaac Keinzley celebrates his equaliser for Tattingstone United. Main photograph: Whitton United goalkeeper Fin Watts celebrates after saving Jordan Cork, who took Tattingstone United's third penalty in the shoot-out. Photographs: Stefan Peck

It will be Whitton's first final since winning the competition in the 2013-14 campaign, after also lifting the famous trophy in both 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Manager Tony Lanni admitted afterwards: “We rode our luck, but cup games are like that. It is a one-off cup game which went to penalties and we got through.

“We weren’t great tonight, we know that. We have been very hit and miss all season and that’s me being brutally honest. There is no point trying to sugarcoat anything. We know where we are at, we know what’s what and we have to take that reward tonight and try and turn it into a positive at Portman Road.”

Whitton got off to the perfect start when Mason Ransomes fired them in front from a penalty in the fifth minute, after keeper Josh Hender had rushed off his line and upended Tom Watkins as he burst into the box.

The goal unsettled Tattingstone who gradually got a foothold in the game and they equalised in the 37th minute, Isaac Keinzley sliding home after Paul Seward’s free-kick had been headed back across goal.

Whitton United goalkeeper Fin Watts gets down to save Charlie Snowling's spot kick in the penalty shoot-out to send his side through to the final. Photograph: Stefan Peck

Ten minutes into the second period Tattingstone centre back Ollie Seward suffered a serious ankle injury after a full-blooded challenge with Sam Cheetham that saw the Whitton midfielder booked.

Seward was taken to hospital and there was a delay of more than 20 minutes before play restarted, only for the Gateway 14 SIL Senior Division side to suffer another blow.

Paul Seward, who had dropped into the centre of defence, was shown a red card after bringing down Mason Ransome as he chased a long through ball with the scoreboard clock now showing 80 minutes.

However, Whitton couldn’t find a way through Tattingstone’s defence and when the final whistle blew after 28 minutes of added time, it was penalty heartache for the village side and ecstasy for Watts and Whitton.

The Teams

Whitton Utd: Fin Watts, Ash Horne, Callum Pearce (sub Isaiah Barber, 90+10 mins), Sam Cheetham (sub Adam Wadey, 90+12 mins), Josh Cheetham (sub Tyo Parnell, 90+10 mins), Charlie Howlett, Tom Watkins, Jake Dolden, Kade Ivatt, Mason Ransome, Jordan King (sub Jack Young, 46 mins). Unused subs:

Tattingstone Utd: Josh Hender, Charlie Snowling, Jordan Cork, Ivan Buxton, Ollie Seward (sub Meshach O’Connor, 77 mins), Marius Aitkens, Jadyn Huggins, Brett Smy, Isaac Keinzley (sub Lesal Thompson, 90+2 mins), Paul Seward, Jordan Crocker. Unused subs: Callum Giles, Byron Ingham, Elliott Crowe.

Referee: Jarrod Dobbin.

Attendance: 392.