BILLINGE’S bid for silverware ended in heartbreak on Saturday.

Despite dominating large parts of their JB Parker Cup semi-final against Egerton, they were undone on penalties after drawing 2-2 in normal time.

“Poor defending ultimately cost us today and with it went our chance of silverware,” Storks manager Wayne Wardle said after the game

"But I can't be too harsh on the players, who have been magnificent during the last crazy 18 months.

“It is now time for a well-earned break for all at the club."

The first half somehow remained goalless despite Billinge carving out several excellent opportunities.

Rob Lamont’s header went inches past the post before another from Zak Riley was even closer, beating Egerton keeper Jamie Preston but cannoning back off the crossbar.

It took until around the hour mark for the hosts to finally make their dominance pay, with skipper Riley finding the net by heading home Nial Dawson’s corner.

However, the lead was to last just five minutes as Egerton equalised with their first shot on target – a penalty converted by Remmi Williams after Richie Allen was penalised for a foul on the edge of the box.

That spurred the visitors into life, with Storks stopper Keiran Halliday producing two terrific stops to keep his side in the game.

The hosts weathered the storm and with just three minutes of normal time remaining, they retook the lead.

Liam Thomas was upended by Andrew Toner in the area, referee Dan Hooton pointed to the spot and after a mass fracas had died down, Rob Lamont kept his cool to convert the penalty.

That looked to be the clincher but with 40 seconds remaining, Toner made amends for conceding the penalty by tapping home the leveller to force a penalty shoot-out, which his side won to take them to the final.