IT has been an unforgettable two years at Salisbury RFC with back-to-back play-off victories.

Green and Whites emulated last season's Southern Counties heroics on Saturday to gain promotion from South West 1 (East).

Their prize for shrugging off Thornbury 26-24 in a nerve-wracking final is a ticket to the National League South West 3.

They left it late, though, at Castle Road as the hosts were heading for a one-point defeat before a dramatic late penalty kick from Tom Lane - moments after missing two - proved decisive.

It sent the the 500 fans wild, and Dan Jeffries' charges roaring into the fifth tier of English rugby, where they will join a whole host of semi-professional outfits.

In a tense opening, the teams couldn't be separated 12 minutes in, Thornbury's opening kick being cancelled out by Lane.

But moments later Lane suffered an unfortunate moment when his attempt to launch the ball forward was charged down by the ever-present Gareth Morgan who skidded under the posts for the opening try, which was converted.

Salisbury came surging back and a nice switch of play allowed Rob Larcombe to go under the posts, Lane converting.

The evenly-contested first half looked to be finishing at 10-10 until Tom Luke's long-range penalty restored their lead.

As the heavens opened, the momentum was with the hosts and Lane pegged back the score once more with a third successive kick.

And just minutes later, following an intense move from the forwards, veteran Richard West bundled over, which made for a fitting end on a day he made his 283rd and final appearance in Salisbury colours.

More drama was to unfold as Will Sharratt hit a penalty kick before Lane responded yet Thornbury hit another three points.

Thornbury were on the front-foot and were rewarded for mounting pressure on the Salisbury forwards with Dan Kerr's try - but the conversion was missed.

At 23-24, the game was hanging on a knife edge with ten minutes install.

And it looked like, for a minute, victory was slipping away from the hosts after Lane was gifted two penalty kicks which were miss-hit.

But nonetheless, Lane prevailed third time lucky in the 77th minute to clinch the winning penalty kick.

Salisbury: Lane, Pottage, Metson, Larcombe, Hammond, Jennings, Tonge, West, Esnoug, Blackborrow, Best, Ranaboldo, Miller, Green, Porter.

Referee: Charlie Gayther (Gloucester)

Att: 500