A valiant display, then an agonising wait, took Basildon's senior men back to Division One of the Southern League.

Three athletics clubs had virtually sealed promotion leaving four teams to battle it out at Ealing for the remaining two.

Daryl Stone and James Everard won the A and B string high jump events to provide a major, early boost for the new towners.

Then Clint Nicholls triumphed in the 400m B hurdles and 110m A hurdles.

Basildon's mid-distance runners stepped up the pressure.

Scott Sterling triumphed in the 800m and 1500m A hurdles, while A steeplechase victory went to Andy Lingard.

Steadily-improving Greg Deacon set another personal best in winning the B steeplechase.

Skipper Nick Wetheridge certainly inspired from the front.

He came second in the 800m B race, then barely had time to swop into trainers and drink some water before working his way up through the field in the 5000m to eventually win with ease -- if that is possible in temperatures of 80 degrees.

An hour later, he won the 1500m B, giving him a tally of 14 points.

Pole-vaulter John Branch and 400m hurdler Dan Glover were among those to gain valuable second places. Debutant Darren Hall came second in the B string 200m to add to his third place in the 100m.

Elsewhere, Graham Bradfield was runner-up in the discus and third in the shot putt, before helping the 100m relay team to second place in the 100m relay.

Basildon finished second on the day, forcing them to wait until 9pm for their rivals' results, before knowing they had won promotion.

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