Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott celebrates with Luke O’Brien, captain Sam Denton and Danny Frost
Some said they were tired and finished, but Shaw Lane Aquaforce have proved their critics wrong by winning the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division title.
Shaw Lane did what was needed by beating Cleethorpes Town 3-1 in Barnsley, paving the way for the emotional scenes.
A win was required to secure the title and promotion out of the hardest league in the Non League pyramid and into the Evo Stik League.
Their clinical performance enabled suspended captain Sam Denton to lift the trophy after the game.
Danny Frost got the party started early on before Lee Morris and Andrew Fox ensured the job was done by half-time.
The biggest cheer of the night was reserved for their chairman Craig Wood when the businessman hoisted the trophy in the air in front of his club’s jubilant supporters.
It was a bittersweet moment for the Aquaforce chief who battled cancer last year and had to fight tooth and nail to get his club into the NCEL.
A number of member clubs won the vote to not allow them into the league back in 2013. He won his appeal and those disgruntled clubs have ironically seen the back of Shaw Lane within the shortest possible timeframe.
He has spent money on improving their ever-improving ground, ensuring that it meets Evo Stik League standard.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce captain Sam Denton lifts the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division trophy in the air
Shaw Lane Aquaforce – Toolstation NCEL Premier Division winners 2015
Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott and chairman Craig Wood have masterminded their club’s rise
Shaw Lane Aquaforce assistant manager Daz Smith, manager Craig Elliott and midfielder Anton Foster celebrate winning promotion
Let’s go quackers: Shaw Lane players, supporters, officials celebrate
It was just down to the team to do their bit and Craig Elliott’s men have run through brick walls for him all season in a thrilling year.
Elliott’s team have been the most consistent side throughout the campaign and just four defeats all season in the league tells its own story – especially considering the fixture backlog.
Shaw Lane are now unbeaten in 12 league games with one match remaining and their display against Cleethorpes was professional and measured.
Frost eased Shaw Lane’s nerves in front of his huge fan club by getting a slight touch on Stef Holt’s header in the 20th minute.
How the party started: Liam Higton can’t stop the opening goal
Danny Frost celebrates his goal
Lee Morris was fortunate to see his goal across the line
Andrew Fox scores Shaw Lane’s best goal of the night to seal their promotion
Frost then turned provider with a cross for Lee Morris. Morris was unable to firmly connect with the ball, but his touch was enough to deceive the Cleethorpes’ defenders.
The contest was over on the stroke of half-time as Fox finished superbly from close range from Morris’ cross.
The second half was an anti-climax for the brilliant title race between Tadcaster, Worksop and Shaw Lane, but there was no reason for the home side to canter forward.
Cleethorpes striker Marc Cooper did hit the post with a terrific strike, but that was one of few chances.
Brody Robertson put himself further in the frame to top the goal-scorers chart with a wonderful goal late-on to add a brief period of tension.
It was too late to deny Shaw Lane and eventually the pandemonium started.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce manager Craig Elliott:
“It is a great feeling. I thought it would be a harder game than what it was, but I was getting nervous before the game because I thought we should have won it already.
“I tried to keep a cool head. Whilst we always had the Glasshoughton game, it was something I didn’t want to go into.
“I’m over the moon for everyone. It has happened so quickly and people forget how short Shaw Lane’s history is.
“People can talk about budgets, but it is not easy to build teams and do things off-the-pitch. Credit goes to everyone.
“We were superb tonight. We had a game-plan and everyone stuck to their jobs and performed it perfectly.
“The plan was to make it as boring as possible in the second half. Although they nicked one at the end, everyone went to plan.”
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Deakin, Stohrer, O’Brien, Foster, Cotterill (captain), Holt, Istead, Fox, Frost (White 84), Morris (Thornton 80), Kelsey (Eyles 75). Subs unused: Darley, Bennett.
Cleethorpes Town: Higton, Grant, Kingston, Dickens (Grant 73), McKay, Richardson, Oglesby, Hanslip, Cooper, Robertson, Kennedy (Trott 54). Subs unused: Peck, Goodwin.
Referee: Mark Powell
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 374
Man of the match: Andrew Fox (Shaw Lane Aquaforce)