SWINDON Supermarine missed out on the Southern League Premier South play-offs by just two points in the end despite an extraordinary 5-3 win over Chesham United at the Webbswood Stadium on Saturday.

Lee Spalding’s men needed Poole Town to lose away to Hendon while winning themselves - and hoping for an 11-goal swing - to pip the Dorset club to fifth place.

But Poole got the job done on their travels, rendering Marine’s entertaining success over play-off qualifiers, Chesham relatively unhelpful at the end of their 30th season.

There was some consolation for Marine, though, as Harry Williams’ final-day hat-trick made it 34 league goals for the season and won him a share of the division’s top scorer crown along with Moses Emmanuel of Hayes and Yeading.

Needing a mathematical miracle to make the play-offs themselves, Marine began strongly with a fine pass finding its way through to Henry Spalding who rounded stand-in keeper Lewis Rolfe to net in the 15th minute.

Within seconds of the restart, Marine won a penalty after Zack Kotwica was clobbered in the box by a late tackle. Williams stepped up to make it two, and he was so close to making it three shortly after when just heading over from a corner.

Then, out of the blue, a Chesham breakaway saw Shaq Hippolyte-Patrick slip a neat finish past Charlie Searle to halve the deficit.

But Marine were soon back in control just before the break when Jamie Edge nodded home Spalding’s in-swinging corner.

Shortly after the restart, the points looked secure as Williams bagged his brace when Spalding’s cross was headed back into the danger area by Ty Duffus and the league’s joint-top scorer was quickest to react.

Although 4-1 behind, the Generals never gave up and fought back to make it an entertaining end.

Substitute Jordan Edwards grabbed one back with 15 minutes left before a terrific solo run and finish by Omar Rowe made it jittery for the hosts.

Marine fears were allayed when Williams was hauled down in the box for a second spot kick. The striker converted it himself with five minutes remaining to seal his hat-trick and the points.