Bognor Regis Town 1

Wembley 2

Wembley ended their campaign by recording an excellent win at Bognor Regis on Saturday with youth team graduate Ishmail Downes scoring a 75th minute winner.

In many ways Wembley's victory can be described as a surprise result, considering that the unashamed visitors spent a "spirited" evening at the local Butlins the night before celebrating their recent escape from relegation.

As a result they fielded a relatively makeshift side which by the end included goalkeeper Kevin Beckles and centre half Tony Millard in the forward line.

"If having a few drinks prior to matches can produce results and performances like this then who needs faith healers," is a polite interpretation of genial Wembley official Richard Marcovitz's comments.

Bognor had won six consecutive games before Saturday's encounter conceding only one goal during this period. After dominating the opening proceedings another victory appeared on the cards.

Michael Birmingham, went closest to scoring during the opening stages of Bognor dominance with a neat lob which was hooked off the line by the retreating Ian Bates.

Then fit-again goalkeeper Joe Miller produced a fine save using his legs to foil the onrushing Neil Scammell.

Bognor eventually broke through to score the opening goal in the 32nd minute when the unmarked Paul Thomas slammed home just inside the near post when a lose ball had drifted into the danger area.

It was not all one-way traffic and Lions finished the opening session strongly with Dave Vincent squandering a couple of good chances when well placed.

However it was third time lucky for Vincent when he successfully found the target six minutes into the second half.

After fastening onto a Bates clearance on the left he fired what appeared to be a harmless shot goalward and saw it slip under the body of the lumbering keeper and roll gently over the line for the equaliser.

Bognor upped the tempo after conceding this soft goal and put the Lions under extreme pressure. Miller made a couple of good saves to deny the homesters and Bognor's Jamie Howell hit a post .

Then in the 75th minute, moments after Miller had made another superb save palming Wilkins' awkward swerving drive onto the bar, Wembley struck again.

The ball was quickly pumped upfield and collected by Wembley substitute Les Thompson who, after ferrying it along the edge of the Bognor penalty area, placed a perfect pass into the path of the onrushing Downes who rifled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

Having taken the lead, Wembley began to assert their authority and with the slightly unconventional strike force of Millard and Beckles, they almost scored a third goal at the close.

Beckles, cheered on by the large contingent of Wembley followers, went closest to scoring after creating space for himself with some fancy footwork, and firing his well-struck effort just past the post.

After the game it was back to Bognor for more celebrations as the side spent the rest of the holiday weekend in the seaside resort celebrating their escape from relegation.

WEMBLEY: Miller, Toussaint, Kirwan (Thompson 36), Walters, Smith, Downes, Bates, Latty, Vincent, Mills (Millard 81), Roache (Beckles 72)

Delroy Pickering hit a brace as Wembley Reserves brought their Suburban League season to a close with a 4-0 Northern Division win over local rivals Ruislip Manor at Vale Farm on Saturday. The Lions' other goals came from Eric Ossadon and Tony Acquar.

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