National League North
Harrogate Town will take on Brackley for a place in the National league after both sides navigated through difficult games to reach the final. The Yorkshire side scored a very late winner against Chorley to seal their place in the final to cause devastation for the magpies, who managed to hold on with ten men until the 94th minute. In the other semi-final Bradford Park Avenue, gave Brackley a very good run for their money. The Avenue managed to hold the hosts for 111 minutes, before they managed to break through to set up an intriguing looking final.
There are two top strikers on show in the showpiece event, and many believe that there will be a straight shootout between Brackley’s Aaron Williams and Harrogate’s Dominic Knowles. For whichever team has the better performing hitman on the day, will have a very good chance of progressing to the fifth tier. The Yorkshire outfit are the bookmaker’s favourites, and they will be very confident that they can end their first season as professionals as a national league outfit. This would be the first time they have achieved this in their 104 year history to date.
Brackley Town will be confident however, that they can upset the odds and achieve promotion themselves. Their semi -final tie against Avenue has proved that they have a never say die attitude and that they keep going even if things are not going their way. In Aaron Williams they have one of the most lethal finishers at this level while also holding the strongest defence in the division. Town only conceded 37 goals in the regular season, but they will face one of their toughest tests yet when they come up against Simon Weavers free scoring attack. It should be a very exciting match up, with both sides rightly believing this could be their season.
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