Dandy Town Roots became the new Commercial A League champions with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Robin Hood on Wednesday night.

Roots made a tremendous turn around from last season after clinging to their Commercial A status when Vasco Mariners did not want to be promoted.

And when reigning champions Key West Rangers lost to MR Onions on Saturday, Roots were given chance to win the title if they could beat Hood.

The pub team started the game with plenty of hustle and took the lead early in the first half when the Roots keeper attempted to throw the the ball to a team-mate only for it to go directly to a Hood player who quickly fed speedy striker Trevor Odriscoll who coolly slotted past the advancing keeper.

That goal seemed to spark Roots and they desperately pushed for an equaliser.

Roots’ pressure finally paid dividends when Mark Trott bundled the ball over the line on the stroke of half-time after Hood failed to clear a corner.

Hood almost took the lead again when a shot from outside the area seemed destined for the top corner but was tipped over even though many in the crowd thought it had gone in.

Midway through the second half, Roots went in front when a Walter Musson free kick was headed home by striker Adam Outerbridge.

Hood came right back and were again denied a goal when the keeper went full length to push an effort away.

Roots leading scorer Darron Simons ensured victory when he collected the ball on the right after a pass from Gershon Gibbons and sped into the box and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper.

Hood kept pushing forward but the tight defence held firm allowing Roots to become Commercial A champions in just their second season in the division.

Proud Roots captain Lloyd Christopher said: “I feel like Roots have accomplished what we set out to do when we were allowed to stay in Commercial A.

“We knew that a lot of teams would take us lightly because of the prior season and we had a point to prove.

“We also wanted to be one of the few teams, if not the only team, to win the league without training.

“We are also relishing the fact that we are accomplishing our original goal which is to bring out the community and the community was out in full last night to mark this historic occasion.”

Key West Rangers coach Armell Thomas was quick to offer his congratulations to Dandy Town but didn’t hide his disappointment over losing the championship.

“The guys worked so hard. We had two games left and had to get three points but we managed to get one point. I can’t blame the officials, I have to blame our guys.

“We wanted it too bad. We could not settle down and play football.”

Rangers were done in by their 1-0 loss, against the run of play, to MR Onions.

Rangers had dumped Roots out of the Commercial Cup and beaten them in one of their league encounters and lost the other.

But he said Roots had marshalled their men well after nearly being relegated.

And he is now looking forward to his side’s Commercial Cup final clash against Robin Hood on Sunday.