Gate Men secure highest finish in 10 years with Chapeltown win

The result ensured Will Rogers’ men ended their North Division One campaign in third position, their highest league ranking since the club left the National League a decade ago.

They finished five points clear of early pacesetters Neston South Wirral, but 19 points behind University of Durham who were pipped to the title by Didsbury Northern.

As has often been the case this campaign, Charles Edmondson was the goal-scoring hero, finishing clinically on six occasions – and taking his tally to 38 goals for the season – as he benefitted from some slick build-up play from his teammates.

Argentinean ace Julian Tarres then signed off his year in Harrogate with an emphatic drag flick late in the game.

At the other end, Chapeltown only really threatened through short-corners, but the Harrogate back five stood firm to see them through to an impressive win on the road.

“Overall, it’s been a very good season for us as a side, and as a club as a whole,” skipper Rogers said.

“The lads have pulled together, bought in to what we’re trying to do and trained harder than ever with double sessions this year.

“All this hard work is reflected in our well-deserved ­­­third-place finish.

“We have had a couple of bad results against the top two teams which shows that we still have work to do, but with the young lads integrating well in to the team we have a solid foundation to push on next season in our bid for promotion to the North Premier Division.”