Bermuda Hogges' final home game of the season ended in heartbreak after Northern Virginia Royals grabbed a last gasp winner to deny the hosts a point.

It had looked as though Troy Tucker's equaliser from the penalty spot midway through the second half had earned Hogges a share of the spoils at BAA Field last night.

Tucker succeeded where Keishen Bean had earlier failed by dispatching his spot-kick past Royals' goalkeeper Harry Lockward to drag his side back into the game.

But Seth Goldman headed home a corner in the dying seconds of the match to ensure Hogges finished their double-header against the Royals empty-handed.

With two more away matches against Carolina Dynamo and West Virginia Chaos remaining, the Hogges will still be hoping to end their debut Premier Development League (PDL) season on a positive note.

However, yesterday Scott Morton's side only had themselves to blame for their defeat – their sixth home loss of the campaign.

The hosts were on the back foot early on with the Royals starting the stronger and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 17 minutes when James Darvin's low cross was tapped home by skipper Richard Edgar.

Hogges could have been further behind had it not been for the excellent reflexes of second choice goalkeeper Tahj Bell who made two double saves to prevent the Royals extending their margin.

After the break, though, the Hogges improved with Bean looking far more influential after being switched from midfield to attack.

And he should have added to his three goal tally this season when Hogges were awarded a penalty after Angelo Simmons was hauled down by Sean O'Reilly.

But Bean's penalty was a woeful one and easily stopped by 'keeper Lockward who pushed the weak effort away to safety.

Hogges kept hunting for the equaliser and won their second penalty of the game just minutes later when Bean was clattered from behind by Lockward as both players challenged for an aerial ball.

This time Tucker made no mistake, lifting his penalty into the top left-hand corner to give the Hogges a scent of victory.

But in the final few seconds Royals' defender Goldman was left completely free at the near post to hammer a powerful header past Bell from an inswinging corner.

Morton who hurled his water bottle on the ground in anger best summed up the frustration on the Hogges' bench. "What can you say, that was gutting," said Morton.

"It was the last minute, we needed to kick up our concentration levels, throw ourselves at the ball and do whatever it took to ensure we at least got a point.

"But we didn't, and it was a really poor goal to concede.

"Credit to the players they fought back in the second half and unfortunately we missed one penalty."

Morton praised teenage keeper Bell for his impressive display between the sticks in the absence of Freddy Hall who is on trial at English League Two side Plymouth Argyle.

"Tahj was excellent today, it almost looked like we had Freddy Hall back in the sticks again with some of the saves he pulled off."

Bermuda Hogges: T.Bell, R.Lee (J.Bather 80), D.Tankard, M.Waldron (E.Signor, 72), D.Cox, S.Darrell, K.Bean, T.Tucker, D.Ming (Capt), T.Walker (D.Andrade, 65), A. Simmons (Hollis, 82)

Substitutes not used: D.Johnson, R.DeShields, L.Alexander

Goals: Tucker, 72 (pen)

Yellow cards: Darrell, Tucker

Northern Virginia Royals: H.Lockward, S.Duran, K.Sheta, (A.Han, 78), S. Goldman, S.O'Reilly, A.Sheta (J.Shannon, 75), J.Davin, R.Edgar (M.Wysocki), D. Shannon, , G.Renfrow, S.Katongole

Substitutes not used: M.Wysocki

Goals: Edgar 17, Goldman, 89

Referee: G.Barkey

Man-of-the-match: Bell (Hogges)