FOOTBALL: Willmott finds the wait well worth it (From Oxford Mail)

FOOTBALL: Willmott finds the wait well worth it

10:00am Tuesday 8th May 2012 in Evo-Stik Southern Premier By Nick Farrant, Sports reporter specialising in Non League Football. Call me on 01865 425488

Oxford City defender Chris Willmott said it was well worth the wait to clinch his first promotion - following yesterday’s 4-2 Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division play-off final win against AFC Totton.

The 34-year-old former Oxford United centre back, who only joined City in December after signing from Brackley, scored the winner in Thursday’s 1-0 semi-final victory against Cambridge City to set up the AFC Totton clash.

And Willmott, who was released by United in 2009, helped his teammates to victory yesterday and promotion to either the Blue Square Bet South or North.

“We’ve had a really good season,” he said. “We have been superb at home. We did so well to finish second and give us home advantage.

“It’s was a great performance today, there’s a real good spirit here.

“I have never won anything, so it’s the best. I’ve been lucky enough to have a career in the pro game, but never won promotion, so this is the first achievement.

“I’ve really enjoyed it since I joined in December, it’s just been fantastic.

“I was on the bench at Brackley for a couple of months, a bit disillusioned really at my age wasting away there.

“Mike (Ford) approached me to come here and it’s proved a great decision.

“I haven’t thought about next season yet, I’ve got all summer to take this in.”