Macclesfield FC earned a title-claiming win after a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Bamber Bridge.
The game was end-to-end action from the beginning as Danny Elliott was denied three minutes into the match with his shot comfortably saved by Charlie Casper.
In the ninth minute, Sean Etaluku delivered an in swinging cross, finding Elliott who could not convert his header on target.
Max Dearnley was needed in goal after pulling off a remarkable save onto the post, denying Michael Potts’ powerful shot.
Just over half an hour played, the Silkmen still struggled to take the lead when Elliott squared the ball across to Luke Duffy who could not take his chance from six yards.
It would be Bamber Bridge who broke the deadlock in the 38th minute as after Ewan Bange’s flicked layoff, Potts smashed a volley into the bottom corner.
The second half saw a determined Macclesfield search for two goals in 45 minutes as Robbie Savage urged his team to believe and keep their title-winning game alive in front of 4,700 fans.
Early into the second 45, Elliott found himself in behind the defence and through on goal but could not score one-on-one against the keeper.
One minute later, John Rooney’s delivery from a corner found Fensome at the back post who could not keep his header down and on target.
Eventually, on the hour mark, the Silkmen equalised after Laurent Mendy fired a screamer from 25 yards, straight into the top corner.
In the 68th minute, the game and scoreline completely turned around as a lobbed cross from Tre Pemberton knocked onto Elliott who just squeezed the ball past the keeper.
With 10 minutes left to play, De Girolamo almost increased the goal cushion to two as he ran in behind the defence, but his effort was denied by Casper.
Of course, as soon as the game finished, a pitch invasion had to happen after such a history-making moment for the club.
Macclesfield can let the celebrations begin as they are confirmed as champions of the Northern Premier League, needing to wait until the final home game of the season to lift the trophy.
The Silkmen take a trip back to Northumberland in their next fixture as they face Blyth Spartans on Saturday.
By Charlie Oxtoby
