Bourne Town beat Boston Town in the United Counties League Premier Division North play-off final

Back-to-back promotions have elevated Bourne Town to their highest-ever standing in non-league football.

The Wakes will be playing at step four of the non-league pyramid next season after a penalty shoot-out victory over Boston Town in their United Counties League Premier Division North play-off semi-final on Saturday.

Michael Goode's side ran out 8-7 winners on spot kicks in front of a huge crowd of 1,781 at the JJ Mac Stadium after the match had finished 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes.

It was a second successive promotion for the Wakes after they had won the United Counties League Division One title last season.

They went into Saturday's showdown on the back of an impressive 4-0 home win over AFC Mansfield in last Saturday's semi-final.

And they started how they left off with a lightning quick start as they looked for the all-important early breakthrough.

Boston goalkeeper Travis Portas produced a superb early save to deny Robbie Ellis who then hit the crossbar with a header from the resultant corner.

An inviting cross from Tom Siddons then just evaded Zac Allen as Bourne made all the running in the early stages.

However, Boston weathered the opening onslaught and grew into the game as they looked to extend their impressive run of form.

Jordan Nuttell and Luke Wilson both went close with headers from set pieces before Brad Marshall rattled the frame of the goal at the other end from a tight angle.

Boston captain Richard Ford was forced into a vital last-ditch challenge to deny Siddons breaking clear before Portas again excelled to palm away a goalbound effort from Henry Dunn.

Bourne could have been forgiven for thinking it wasn't going to be their day in front of goal when Ford headed clear off the line from an Ellis header and then Siddons sent an effort wide from an Allen cross.

That was further compounded late in the first half when Boston took the lead as Eunis Lievins cheaply conceded possession and the dangerous Harry Limb raced clear down the right before arrowing in a cross which Nuttell turned home.

It sparked another strong response from the Wakes at the start of the second half but Portas was again in inspired form in the Boston goal.

He got down well to deny Allen shortly after the restart before Dunn steered an effort wide from Richard Jones' flick-on.

Siddons was inches away from converting a Dan Flack cross which fizzed agonisingly wide of the far post while Wilson had an opening at the other end which he steered over the crossbar.

Bourne's luck in front of goal then turned back in their favour as the game headed into the final 15 minutes.

Marshall headed wide from a set piece but referee Thomas Kennedy awarded Bourne another corner kick which brought their leveller.

Zak Munton's set piece sparked a melee in the penalty area and Marshall stabbed the ball to spark joyous celebrations among the home faithful.

The initiative was now with Bourne but again Boston took the sting out of the home side's tail and they came closest to snatching the win late on but home goalkeeper Dan Swan made a crucial block from Limb's smart turn and shot which sent the game to penalties.

Siddons, Bailey Baker and Ellis all scored for Bourne with Limb, Layton Maddison and Kallum Smith replying for Boston.

Portas then saved well from James Hill-Seekings but Swan again kept his side in the game by stopping Jordan Tate's effort.

Allen and Liam Adams then each netted to send the tie to sudden death where Dunn, Munton, Flack and Marshall scored for Bourne.

Swan had come close to saving McKenzie Burdass' effort and, although beaten by the subsequent spot kicks from Wilson and Ted Gibbons, he kept out Pierce Hudson's penalty to secure a memorable win for the Wakes.