JAMES' HEROES TAKE A BOW

BOWERS & Pitsea bounced straight back to Step 3 foot ball after a tense penalty shootout victory over Essex rivals Brentwood Town, who in turn lost a second final shootout in three years.

- Nathan Williams

Chris Millar fired Bowers in front just after the quarter-hour, only for Matt Cripps to reply 18 minutes later.

But when keeper David Hughes saved Marlon Agyakwa’s penalty, it clinched promotion for James Collins’ men.

It was a bright start from Bowers who twice tested visiting keeper Melvin Minter early on. First, Chris Millar let fly from range forcing Minter to get down and parry behind then, two minutes later, the 29-year-old was again called into action again, parrying Jack Thompson’s pop shot

However, Bowers wouldn’t be kept out for much longer, and just past the quarter hour they broke the deadlock – Millar stepping up with a free-kick from the right and strking under the wall and in off the woodwork.