WITHIN seconds of the final whistle, Ian Ross was on the pitch embracing Barnton’s players.

Moments earlier, hundreds watching at Townfield had been warned against jumping the same barrier to invade.

But not one present, save for those supporting Bacup of course, will have begrudged the former chairman his moment.

After all, this is his triumph.

“This club has been on the slide for too long, and we want to do something about it,” he said after taking over as co-manager with Kevin Towey four years ago.

He’s kept his word, and how.

Following relegation from the Cheshire League’s top flight in 2009, the Villagers – both literally and metaphorically – hit rock-bottom when they finished last in the second tier three years later.

The team won only two matches.

Yet their latest victory, secured on Saturday thanks to goals in extra time by Jason McShane and substitute Ryan Malone, propelled them to the North West Counties League’s Premier Division.

Derbies against 1874 Northwich and Winsford next term will mark an ascent to the highest level in the club’s history.

With such a prize at stake, and in high temperatures on a bone-dry surface, their contest with Bacup was cagey.

The visitors opted to wait, seemingly content to pinch a goal on the break rather than push to score one.

Barnton boss Danny Meadowcroft was bolder, restoring Towey – whose fine treble against Cheadle in Monday’s semi-final changed the course of a game the Villagers had trailed – to the starting line-up alongside Chris Smith in attack.

He made a big call too, leaving out Ryan Malone.

Of course he knew what he was doing, for the wide man steered in a decisive second goal to settle the outcome after two hours.

As significant, 60 seconds earlier, was goalkeeper Richie Mottram’s save at full stretch to parry Adrian Bellamy’s drive from the edge of the penalty area.

His intervention kept intact a slender lead Barnton had established after 100 minutes, when McShane timed a run from midfield perfectly to meet Daniel Laverty’s cross with a firm header.

For Ross, who has remained an active committee member since stepping down as chairman in February, it is a perfect way to sign off.

After a 4-2 win at Golborne in his first league game at the club in August 2012, a Barnton side playing a single step below Northwich Victoria and Witton Albion was a dream.

Yet he’s made it come true.

“Barnton are in the best shape they’ve ever been,” said his successor Mark Griffiths.

For a club with county, national and international success on their honours list, that takes some doing.

Barnton | Mottram (GK), Stafford (Richards), Fielding, Pollard, Frost, Burke, Towey (Scott), McShane, Smith (Malone), Laverty, Rigby Subs not used Webster, Burgess Goals McShane 100, Malone 120

Referee Ian Jones

Attendance 554