A goal fest in the final game of the season saw Harborough Town come from behind to emphatically beat Dereham Town, capping off a highly successful first season in step 4 for the Bees.
Dereham got the goalscoring started as Matt Blake got the final touch from Ryan Swift’s initial shot that was bending into the bottom corner, before Paul Malone replied 11 minutes later as Harborough grew into the game.
A disallowed Ben Williams goal preceded Malone’s bullet header to put the hosts ahead on the stroke of half time, setting the Bees up for a highly productive second half in front of goal.
Two emphatic finishes in the space of two minutes put Harborough well in the driving seat, as Joel Carta’s sweet strike was followed by a Dylan Hill half volley that nestled into the top corner, though Malone could not grab his hattrick as another bullet header thundered off the crossbar.
Carta calmly slotted the ball past an onrushing Ross Bilham to notch his second of the game and Harborough’s fifth, before Dodzi Agbenu put the icing on the cake as he lashed the ball into the top corner.
Harborough Town 6
Malone (36, 45) Carta (67, 76) Hill (69) Agbenu (88)
Dereham Town 1
Blake (25)
MOTM: Paul Malone
Match Rating: 5*