THE BEST things come to those who wait.

Buckland Brewer have been trying for 11 long seasons to gain promotion from the lowest tier of North Devon football.

Fulfilling that ambition became even more special when they clinched the Intermediate Two championship on the final weekend of the season.

Lynton's last-day draw at Torridgeside meant John Adams' team topped the table while Ilfracombe Town snatched second place.

Promotion had already been confirmed a week earlier with the 2-1 win over local rivals Bradworthy — a result that summed up their ability to grind out results.

Matt Horn and Steve Tucker got the vital goals while keeper Danny Barnes was in excellent form as Brad piled forward in search of an equaliser.

Barnes, the club's player of the season, proved an inspirational figure, particularly in the wins over Northam Lions and Torridgeside in the final month.

While Buckland haven't rattled in the goals like the other divisional winners, success has been built on hard work and determination.

Twice during the season they battled for 2-0 wins over neighbours Putford, while they drew home and away with Lynton.

The 1-1 draw at Holman Park in March was pivotal, with Simon Adams grabbing an injury-time equaliser after Freddie Bolton had given Lynton a late lead.

Adams weighed in with 22 goals over the campaign while Vinny Bott struck 21, including hat-tricks against Mortehoe and Chittlehampton.

Inspired by their Journal Cup win over Putford, Ilfracombe timed their late surge to perfection, pinching runners-up spot as Lynton wobbled.

Topping the table at Christmas, Combe suffered a bad January, thumped 6-1 by Pilton as Gary Grant grabbed a hat-trick, then beaten 3-0 by North Molton.

But that was a real turning point and they lost just once in the last 14 league and cup games, scoring 21 goals in the final three fixtures.

The 5-4 win over previously unbeaten Buckland Brewer in November was one of the games of the season, skipper Kenny Robertson firing his team back from 3-1 down with two free-kicks.

And Combe completed a double over the eventual champions when Sam Brown's hat-trick and Carl Power stunned them 4-1 in March.

While Lynton were the unlucky team to end up third in a three-horse race, they can take heart from a positive campaign.

A win at Torridgeside on the last day would have made them champions, but despite goals from Jamie Vickery and Luke Dyer (two), the 3-3 draw meant they didn't even get the runners-up medals.

It was a desperately disappointing finish for a side that impressed with the emergence of young players CJ Roberts, Tommy Mirow and Jack Pugsley.

The 1-0 defeat the previous week to a goal from North Molton's Nick Bain proved costly.

South Molton also seemed to fare well against stronger opponents, beating Buckland Brewer and Ilfracombe as the top sides felt the tension in the final weeks.

Down at the wrong end of the table, Chittlehampton didn't earn many points, but they earned praise for their perseverance in a difficult season.

Steve Straker and Craig Rippon hit the goals during their solitary win, a 2-0 triumph over Northam Lions at the end of February.

Torridgeside's youngsters also earned plaudits for their entertaining football, twice losing 4-3 to Northam Lions and beating Pilton 5-4 with a late winner from Lee Huxtable.