Jonathan North saved two penalties as Wealdstone reached the FA Cup first round proper for the first time in six years after beating Bognor Regis 2-1 on Saturday.

Victory was all the more memorable for the fact Stones goalkeeper North saved two penalties from Jason Prior, won either side of half-time by the Rocks player. 

This was a rip-roaring cup tie full of excitement and incident with both sets of fans cheering on their respective teams throughout an entertaining contest.

After early midfield sparring the Rocks held the ascendancy in the first period, playing some neat controlled football.

But the Stones still had most of the chances in a tense first half, including a Jefferson Louis header that was held by away keeper Grant Smith and a thunderbolt effort from Matt Ball that crashed off the crossbar.

North’s first penalty save, a minute from the end of the half, came after Tom Hamblin bundled over Prior inside the area.

Stones upped the tempo after the break and took the lead on 54 minutes.

Bradley Hudson-Odoi broke free down the left flank having been freed by Scott Davies, cut inside and shot past Smith to spark mayhem in the packed Bulla Stand.

The shocked away side dropped back and paid the price for losing their focus. From a cheaply won corner, an unmarked Hamblin powered home a bullet header to double Wealdstone’s lead seven minutes later.

Stones defended their two-goal cushion with the aid of North’s penalty heroics.

The tie ended nervously for the Stones after the Rocks midfielder Chad Field rifled home a deserved consolation goal a minute from time.

Stones faced five minutes of added time but held on via another brick wall defensive display to see the tie out and record a memorable FA Cup victory.

Attention now turns to Monday’s first round draw which sees League One and Two sides enter the competition. The draw is at 7pm on BBC 2.

Wealdstone: North; Urquhart, Parker, Hamblin, Binns; Lucien (Duffy 80), Davies, Godfrey, Ball, Hudson-Odoi (Wright 70); Louis (McGleish 89).

Subs: Dutton (GK), Corcoran, Hutchinson, Markus.

Attendance: 847