Steve Istead celebrates scoring his first ever goal for Shaw Lane
Champions Shaw Lane Aquaforce finally put Glasshoughton Welfare out of their misery as the 9-0 demolition relegated the Castleford-based side on the last day of the season.
Key striker Joe Thornton even had to play in goal for Aquaforce, whose big victory ensures that they finish with the most goals scored in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division.
The damage was done weeks ago for Glasshoughton, but Aquaforce boss Craig Elliott is ironically the man who got Welfare into the Premier and now he’s the man who sent them down.
The pressure was off Aquaforce for the first time in a long campaign as the title was wrapped-up during the win over Cleethorpes Town in midweek.
Had Aquaforce needed to win the game to win the league, Glasshoughton would have probably faced a battering bigger than the 12-0 loss in November.
It was a good job they were not needing three point as goalkeeper Ian Deakin went down injured in the warm-up. Resembling a scene out of a disaster movie, Aquaforce players and staff swarmed around their stricken player.
Deakin was ruled unfit with a swollen knee, but luckily Thornton, who kept a clean sheet at Heanor in March, was around to step into the role.
Thornton, who has an excellent track as a stopper, was a spectator for most of the game as Shaw Lane were rarely put under pressure.
Glasshoughton gave champions Shaw Lane a guard of honour
Shaw Lane attacker Chris White controls the ball
Craig Elliott kept his promise of sitting down during the game
Joe Thornton was a spectator for most of the game after being forced to go in goal
In a one-sided first half, Lee Morris got Aquaforce started by going round Glasshoughton goalkeeper Josh Archer for the first goal.
Even though the score-line was huge, Shaw Lane only scored one more time in the opening half. That was an own goal as Josh Prudhoe deflected Danny Frost’s cross past Archer.
The floodgates opened straight after half-time. Within 30 seconds of the start, Frost raced through and lobbed to get his name on the score-sheet.
Glasshoughton did briefly venture forward and should have pulled a goal back when Nathan Perks hit the crossbar from close range.
The miss summed up Welfare’s season and the afternoon gradually got worse for them.
Shaw Lane players go wild after James Cotterill
Danny Frost even got to spend time with his quacking crew fan club
Matt Cressey kicks the ball into the net after another Shaw Lane goal
Aquaforce chairman Craig Wood sees the funny side after being doused with champagne after the match
A quickly-taken free kick saw James Cotterill score his first ever goal for the club with goal number four.
Midfielder Steve Istead had been chasing the same feat and he celebrated his strike like a man possessed by running half the length of the pitch.
Four goals in the last 13 minutes took the lead to nine. Shane Kelsey rattled home two superb efforts, while Chris White and Jimmy Eyles found the net.
The heavy loss completes a disappointing season for Glassshoughton and ends their three-year stay in the Premier Division.
They have trips to Dronfield Town to look forward to, while Shaw Lane are going to the dizzy heights of the Evo Stik League.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Thornton, Stohrer, O’Brien, Istead, Cotterill, Holt, White, Fox, Frost (Kelsey 54), Morris (Darley 54), Eyles. Sub unused: Foster.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Archer, Prudhoe, Cressey, B Kellett (Walker 68), Snaith, Morley (White 64), Horton, Thomas, Perks, R Fish, L Kellett (K Fish 68).
Referee: Mr J Simpson
Attendance: 219
Man of the match: Steve Istead (Shaw Lane Aquaforce)