STUART Williamson will take his place in FA Vase history after making an amazing three penalty saves in Lymington Town’s 1-0 victory at Oldand Abbotonians on Saturday.

In a dramatic tale of spot kicks, John Pyatt’s Sydenhams Premier outfit eventually prevailed 1-0 thanks to Darren Ritchie’s penalty winner scored deep in extra time.

But the day was all about long-serving goalkeeper Williamson who saved a twice-taken spot-kick in normal time before denying the Western League hosts an equaliser in the dying seconds of a marathon tie.

The irony was that Williamson wasn’t even supposed to have been playing due to family commitments.

Manager John Pyatt explained: “He was unavailable due to his son’s birthday party, but another keeper let me down. I texted Willo and he got straight back and said he’d see me at the ground. I think he was destined to play all along!”

Brad Strickland gave away the first penalty in normal time and Williamson dived to his left to keep out Tom Morgan’s kick only for the referee to deem he had strayed from his line and order it to be retaken.

Undeterred, Williamson went the same way to stop Jordan Greenwood’s retake and, miraculously he then outwitted Jack Parker after a late foul by Harrison Weeks had threatened to deny Lymington victory.

“It was unbelievable – a game of four halves!” smiled Pyatt.

“Will Tickle was playing his first game back for five weeks after an ankle injury and I said that one run from him in extra time would get its reward. He went on a mazy run, they scythed him down and Darren Ritchie took a brilliant penalty that no ’keeper was going to get to.”

The one downer on Lymington’s day was a knee injury to striker Jack Odam who could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Pyatt, though, has signed 6ft 4in frontman Albert Egboh, 19, on dual registration from Eastleigh and the youngster could feature away to Bemerton in the Sydenhams Premier tonight (Tuesday).

Bemerton crashed out of the Vase 3-0 at home to Andover Town with Chris Onoufriou, Liam Gilbert and Lewis Benson on target for the north Hampshire visitors.