Warrington Town crowned league champions

VIDEO: WARRINGTON Town secured the league title in emphatic fashion, thrashing Prescot Cables 6-1 in front of a packed Cantilever Park.

Any nerves that the hosts and their supporters may have been experiencing were soon extinguished by two early goals that set them on their way.

Ciaran Kilheeney celebrates his 40th goal of the season -Picture JOHN HOPKINS

The league’s top scorer, and Town captain, Ciaran Kilheeney broke the deadlock on 13 minutes with his 39th goal of the season.

When Scott Metcalfe doubled the lead two minutes later, the atmosphere amongst the 1411-strong crowd turned in to a carnival one.

Needing just a point to guarantee top spot and promotion to the Evo-Stik Premier League, it ultimately didn’t matter as closest challengers Spennymoor Town were beaten by Northwich Victoria.

Ben Deegan could have made it 3-0 on 23 minutes, but his header was comfortably saved.

At the other end, Prescot threatened periodically, Rob Doran and Lloyd Dean both dragging shots wide.

The third came shortly after the half hour mark when midfielder Gerard Kinsella found the back of the net at the second attempt as the ball bounced around the goalmouth.

That proved to be Kinsella’s last contribution as he was replaced by Warren Beattie in the middle, but that didn’t halt Warrington’s charge.

Kilheeney’s flick found Dean on the left and his low cross was diverted home by crowd favourite Chris Gahgan to make it 4-0 at the break.

Prescot scored the goal of the game to get on the scoresheet nine minutes in to the second half, Rob Doran curling a lovely free-kick from 25 yards past Karl Wills.

That proved a mere blotch on the Town copybook, and they added a further two goals later on.

Substitute Steven Gillespie played a one-two with Danny Ventre from a short corner and then clipped a ball to the back post for centre-half Daniel O’Donnell to finish on the volley with his right foot.

And minutes later after a Gillespie shot was blocked, Kilheeney reacted quickest to the loose ball and thrashed it past the ‘keeper.

In the Warrington sunshine, it was the perfect way for Town to secure a well-deserved league title.

They will now ply their trade in the seventh tier of English football next season, the Evo-Stik Premier League.

Their season ends with trips to Radcliffe (Tuesday) and Spennymoor (Saturday).

CHAMPIONS! PICTURE JOHN HOPKINS

Manager Stuart Mellish – PICTURE JOHN HOPKINS

CHAMPIONS! – PICTURE JOHN HOPKINS

CHECK out a gallery of 30 photos from Barrie Scholes & John Hopkins

Warrington Town: Wills, Brown, Dean, Ventre, McCarten, O’Donnell, Gahgan (Robinson), Kinsella (Beattie), Kilheeney, Deegan (Gillespie), Metcalfe. Unused subs: Turner, Holt.

Prescot Cables: Burgess, Harper (Duke), Johnson, Herbert, Nicholson, Evans, Bannister, McCulloch, Doran (Grundy), Dean (Scarisbrick), Edgar. Unused subs: Nicholson, Ball.

Well Done @warrenbeattie1 on this pal. Class 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻 https://t.co/ORX9Edwoqu

— Damien Ellison (@DamoDingle) April 16, 2016

Brilliant well done @theyellows toasting you in London #vintagefestival16 https://t.co/IZbdECJi74

— Nick Taylor (@Nick4P) April 16, 2016

MT @warringtonworld: @theyellows crowned league champions https://t.co/I31cepom2j pic.twitter.com/WKyNBUd59E < that’s a *lot* of champagne! >

— Nick Bent (@NickBent) April 16, 2016

Congratulations to the @theyellows who won the NPL1DN today. We look forward to the Cheshire derbies next season.

— Nantwich Town FC (@TheDabbers) April 16, 2016

Well done to @theyellows on securing promotion👏🏼👏🏼⚽️

— Amy Johnson (@amy_johnson94) April 16, 2016

Congratulations @theyellows @GarySkent etc. Long overdue reward for years of hard work.

— Chorley Mon (@Chorley_Mon) April 16, 2016

Congratulations to @theyellows on becoming champions! ⚽️ #OneTown

— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) April 16, 2016

@wolvesrl @theyellows well done Warrington Town

— #HardWired#WTID!! (@wattolasswwrflc) April 16, 2016

@NonLeaguePaper @theyellows champions with 100 points already. Still two to play. Party time at The Cantilever tonight

— Rob Wood (@Footywirerob) April 16, 2016

Congratulations to @theyellows on winning the league the right way!!

— timothy baker (@tedbaker1874) April 16, 2016

Congratulations to @theyellows who have won @evostikleague North this afternoon! #PassionNotFashion

— TheNonLeague (@TheNonLeagueMag) April 16, 2016

Well done to everyone involved at @theyellows on winning the Evo-Stik North title today!

— 1874 Northwich FC (@1874Northwich) April 16, 2016

Warrington Town crowned league champions in emphatic fashion https://t.co/Zfxh4Vju34 @theyellows #COYY

— Martin Stephenson (@vexillia) April 16, 2016

@Footywirerob @leesmithwtfc fantastic achievement by @theyellows made up for all the real spectators that have been going years #champions

— Glenn Walker (@gpw41) April 16, 2016

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!! @theyellows pic.twitter.com/kxotYwF11I

— JaiW13 (@JaiW13) April 16, 2016

Congratulations to Gary and everyone @theyellows for their promotion as champions- great season for Warrington Town pic.twitter.com/5sy6lQOHlx

— John Stockton (@CllrJStockton) April 16, 2016

Congratulations to all @theyellows on securing the league champions today
Well deserved win for some great people

— Kemik the Viking (@Kemik_Official) April 16, 2016