JUBILATION and elation filled Bonnymead Park last night as Amesbury Town secured promotion to Sydenhams Wessex Premier.

Blues required one victory from their last two games to seal runners-up spot, which arrived at the expense of champions Portland United.

Danny Finnigan notched up a brace and Josh Stockwell found the net for the Blues in a 3-1 victory.

That puts them on 76 points with one game spare, fending off Tadley Calleva's strong battle for second, who will now finish in third place.

After a steady early exchanges, Blues had to wait 34 minutes for the opening goal to arrive.

Stockwell, on his first start, picked up a waited pass and drilled a low shot past Seam Lillington into the bottom corner.

Just before half time, Craig Wheeler crossed for Nic Turpin, who got in front of a defender but shot just wide.

Portland, who were crowned champions last week, started the second half with real intent and Carl McClements made the most of some weak Amesbury defending, only to be blocked by Paddy Creese.

On the hour mark, Amesbury increased their lead when Craig Jenning's pass was misjudged by Lillington and Finnigan pounced to head home.

Seven minutes from time Portland pulled one back through Ross Carmichael's deflected free kick - the first goal Creese has conceded in 623 minutes.

Despite chances at either end, Finnigan got the promotion party going with a third deep into stoppage time. A launched pass found Tyler Brockway, who was fouled, but the referee waved play on and the striker sealed his 26th goal on for the season - taking him into third place on the goal chart.

Blues boss Gareth Horner said: "Last night topped off what has been an eventful three years for the club.  

"Who would have thought that in such a short space of time we would have achieved promotion to the Wessex Premier League."