IAIN O’Connell admits he is still on cloud nine following Great Wakering Rovers Essex Senior League triumph last week.

Rovers were crowned champions without kicking a ball after Basildon United could only manage a draw against Sporting Bengal United.

It means O’Connell’s team will make an immediate return to the Isthmian North following their relegation last season.

And O’Connell could not stop singing the praises of his players.

“When I look at the players’ dedication and discipline in training I am so pleased,” he said. “I am up in the sky on cloud nine.

“We have a small squad and I’m really proud as going straight back up is hard.

“This league is hard to get out of and I expected it to go down to the last day. Up until last week there was still four teams that could have won it and all of the top five are very good footballing sides.

“The consistency has been brilliant. We knew we had the quality was there, even after a slow start, and we believed in ourselves.

“We haven’t had too many injuries and guys like Aaron Russell, who has been injured but come back in and filled in at full back for Danny Hurford who has chicken pox.

“But I could talk about the whole squad as they have all done so well.”

Rovers lost four games before mid October but their record since then has been extraordinary.

O’Connell’s team have won 22 of their last 26 matches and only lost their first league match of 2018 last week against FC Romania.

And the Wakering boss believes he knows where the turning point came.

“I think the turning point came at Redbridge,” he said. “We were nine points behind them and we won 7-2 which closed the gap to six points with two games in hand. We had so much more confidence after that.

“I am sure we have the best goalscorers in the league. We have scored the most goals and conceded the fewest and it is that which usually wins the league.

“I remember when I was playing for Dover we let in 21 goals and although we only scored 59 it didn’t matter because that’s how good our defence was.

“But everything is done right here. From the kitchen staff to the management team.

“We are in the final of the Errington League Challenge Cup on Monday and we want to finish with another trophy.

“After that we will reflect on the season and have a bit of a celebration.”