Harborough Town secured the win and promotion they deserved after goals at either end of the game saw off promotion rivals Anstey Nomads in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division Play-Off Final.1
The Bees could not have wished for a better start, as they pressed straight from the first whistle, and scored the opening goal of the game on five minutes after Connor Kennedy sent an inviting ball down the right channel finding Kai Tonge who beat the Anstey defender to the ball and shrugged of the challenge and prodded the ball through the legs of the advancing keeper. The first half continued with Harborough in control with good chances for Kennedy, Daire and goalscorer Tonge, with Tonge’s second effort being well blocked by Anstey’s keeper from Duffy’s through ball.
Early into the second half Luis Rose had a shot denied when he was clean through on goal. Tonge was then thwarted by the Anstey keeper with a goal-bound flicked effort agonisingly bouncing the wrong side of the post. Anstey pushed as the second half wore on but the Harborough backline stood resolute, as they have done on so many occasions this season, with one chance being cleared off the line by Captain Ben Williams. The Bees then wrapped up promotion in added time when Connor Kennedy again turned provider playing in Rose who lifted the ball over the grounded keeper despite a Anstey defender almost blocking the shot it slowly bounced into the net to set off an over-joyed Luis Rose to wildly run the length of the pitch to celebrate being chased by his teammates. The celebrations continued a few minutes later as the referee blew the final whistle, and cue wild celebrations from the Bees players, management and supporters. Next Stop – Step 3.
Harborough Town 2 – 0 Anstey Nomads
Kai Tonge (5)
Luis Rose (90+1)
MOTM: Jake Duffy
Match rating: 4*
By Chris Lander