In the end the force was irresistible.

And there was emotional scenes at Ramsbottom Cricket Club on Sunday when the club claimed their first Lancashire League title in 18 years with victory over Accrington. It was Ramsbottom’s 15th league win on the bounce.

The last time the Acre Bottom side won the championship they had a fresh-faced young spinner in their ranks called Jon Fielding.

And Fielding was again instrumental in Ramsbottom’s unremitting push to claim the title again.

Since he returned as player/coach this year, after several years proing on the local circuit, Fielding has been like a metronome from one end of the wicket.

Two weeks ago, he passed the 100-wicket mark for the season – a remarkable feat for an amateur that has not been achieved since 1939.

And there was not much doubt that reigning champions Accrington were going to face a severe dose of Fielding’s bowling in Sunday’s game that Ramsbottom needed to win to clinch the championship.

Going into the match Fielding was always of a mind to bat on winning the toss, unless the elements held promise of some unwelcome weather.

And when the coin landed right side up, the home side elected to take first knock.

But opening the bowling for the defending champions was a Lancashire League bowling legend.

David Ormerod has more than 1,000 wickets to his name and a proud competitor, who will concede nothing - especially his grip on the championship – without a fight.

And he struck the first two blows for Accrington with the wickets of Alex Bell and Andy Holt.

But then David Bell and professional Alex Doolan put together a third-wicket stand of 161 runs that all but ensured the league trophy was coming to Acre Bottom.

Both were in the 90s and cruising towards respective hundreds with the overs running out when they took too many liberties with Ormerod’s bowling and were out.

Bell was dismissed when he lifted one into the hands of Paul Carroll and was out for 90. His 500 run-plus season was boosted by this knock that had six fours and came off 124 balls.

And Doolan was only three short of his ton when he went down the wicket to Ormerod and was stumped. He hit four fours and a six off 112 balls.

Circumspection was never on Robert Read’s agenda in the dying embers with wickets in the shed and he opted to go down the wicket and Matt Wilson took the bails off.

The final three wickets to fall gave Ormerod the only five-wicket haul of the day after bowling out an end.

But Ramsbottom’s total of 240 was always likely to be a bridge too far with Fielding preparing to put in one of his stingy, marathon stints at the other end.

However, the wrecking ball for the Accrington reply came from the skipper’s opening partner Mick Haslam.

The pace veteran took the first four wickets, with the fourth being Accrington pro Will Driver, who had made 37.

And with that dismissal the visitors were left on 63-4 and league chairman Bert Hanson knew he would have to leave Rawtenstall's derby with Haslingden at the Worswick Memorial, to take the old silverware to Acre Bottom.

Fielding then stepped up to the stump again and dismissed Matt Schofield for four before pulling another rabbit out of the hat by taking three wickets in four balls.

By that stage the champagne was already well cooled and young Jack Walmsley mopped up the tail to win the league for his team with the final wickets.

At the end the deposed champions presented their successors with a bottle of champagne.

Skipper Fielding said: "David Ormerod presented us with a card from their players and a bottle of champagne and I would like to thank them for that. It shows the type of guys they are."