TWO fine victories over clubs who have run them neck and neck all season clinched the League championship for Woodbank and set them up for a possible league and cup double in next Sunday's final against Ashton United at Glossop.

Wednesday evening's visitors to Nuttall Park were long time table toppers Denton Villa and Woodbank got the perfect start when Christian Gibbs powered a long clearance into the visitors box. Stuart Hutton steered the ball back to Wayne Dalton who drove the the ball home from 15 yards to open the scoring.

With nine minutes gone Steven Taylor cut out a ball in Midfield and split the retreating defence to send Hutton clear. Hutton's flick inside found Dalton who power home number 2. Try as they may Denton could not reduce the arrears and Woodbank set up a head to head for the title with Radcliffe Borough on Sunday at Close Park.

With so much at stake and watched by a crowd of several hundred play swept from end end. Woodbank got their noses ahead on 39 minutes when Stuart Kelley's long throw was brilliantly headed home by Ian Owens. Two minutes later a similar move resulted in a penalty when Owens was blatantly held down when faced with an open goal.

Phil Kenyon however rose to the occasion with a truly brilliant save. The game continued end to end but Woodbank gradually gained Ascendancy and in the 79th minute Carl Trimble audaciously slipped a free kick through the defensive wall for Simon Kelly to score.

Excellent goalkeeping by Kenyon thwarted Stuart Hutton, Jake Heap and Peter Lunn in the final stages but Woodbank were worthy winners on the day.

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