Worthing FC secured the National League South title on Saturday afternoon and with it promotion to the National League for the first time in their history after a 2-0 win over Ebbsfleet Utd.

The visitors arrived from Kent needing the points themselves to ensure a top seven finish and entry into the end of season play-off’s so it was never going to be a walk in the park.

In the warm Sussex sunshine it was the Fleet who got off to the better start, the nerves and tension around the ground being felt as the visitors were first into their stride.

But slowly the hosts found their feet in the game and began to ask one or two questions of the visitors but it took until eight minutes before half time for the game to come alive.

There seemed no danger as Joe Cook strode forwards from the Rebels backline and played the ball into Razzaq Coleman Da-Graft, a ricochet back to Cook saw the centre half unleash a thunderbolt from 18 yards out to open the scoring.

With Maidenhead holding their nearest challengers Hornchurch to a goal less first half, the Rebels were 45 minutes away from the National League if the scores remained the same.

However, Worthing came out with the bit between their teeth and eight minutes into the half Coleman Da-Graft fired a powerful, dipping swerving shot which gave Hall no chance in the visitors goal and put the hosts well in command.

With the Fleet needing to claw back goals for the points, manager Josh Wright sent on attacking substitutes to get something from the game but had to leave gaping holes at the back.

There were numerous extra chances including Coleman Da-Graft slamming one effort against the post when he had just Hall to beat but the visitors ran out of steam as did Hornchurch who failed to find the net leaving Worthing to be crowned champions after three years of play-off heartbreak.

Fleet themselves missed out on the top seven after results elsewhere confirmed a nineth place finish for the Kent outfit on a day where they could have finished as high as third, fine margins at times.