MIDDLEWICH celebrated winning their first Mid Cheshire League championship for 29 years in style on Wednesday.
And they had their neighbours and rivals Barnton to thank.
They kicked off as champions because Barnton held Poynton to a 2-2 draw the previous evening, making it impossible for them to catch Middlewich.
So Town were in relaxed mood, although they had to overcome Bollington's deflected opening goal before putting on a show for the three-figure crowd.
Joey Roberts went round the goalkeeper to equalise and then Will Killey found the net with his left foot from inside the box.
After the break, Rob Hopley sidefooted home and Les Miranda beat his marker to chip the oncoming keeper.
Manager Terry Murphy said: 'Having won the league, the players were relieved and relaxed and we played well throughout.
'We won the title by seven points, which means we won it ourselves, and that is the pleasing thing.'
Barnton Res 1 Middlewich Town Res 5
STEVE Moore's second string rattled up the victory to confirm the unique double-championship for Middlewich.
Like the first team, they also fell behind.
Moore said: 'There were a few collywobbles. A lot of the players are young and had never done so well or gone so far, so they were nervous. But once they began to play well, they won easily.'
Gavin Tomlinson - who is also the Middlewich Cricket Club captain - levelled the scores and Steve Gibson put Middlewich ahead before the break.
In a one-sided second half, Steve Enwistle, James Hignett and James Petrie all netted.
