HIGHGATE United’s first-team and under-21s both finished with victories to round-off their respective league campaigns on a high.
The first-team secured a 3-0 win away to Worcester City to finish the season in 14th place, and just a point away from finishing as high as tenth, after an upturn in form in the second-half of the season.
It proved their sole league double of the season, which was achieved thanks to three sensational strikes from McCauley Manning, Lei Brown and Marco Adaggio.
Gate offered returns to the side for Lei Brown, Isaac Jagroop and Dale Taylor, in the absence of Duane Courtney and Nathan Pulisciano, whilst Shay Palmer slotted in well to accompany Richard Bryan in an unfamiliar centre-back role.
The visitors opened their accounts for the afternoon 16 minutes in, when Manning raced to within 30-yards of goal and beat Sam Gilder with a thumping strike that nestled just inside the top-right corner.
Then, four minutes later, Gate were two goals to the good.
Todd Yahiya sent Brown through on goal who promptly stroked the ball into the net past the onrushing Gilder.
Corey Currithers and Taylor were proficient in regaining possession in midfield, and proved a key component in Highgate enjoying further dominance following the quickfire double.
The final goal of the game arrived after just 34 minutes, when Palmer swept a free-kick into the path of Jagroop, who’s header back across the box allowed Adaggio to nudge the ball home.
Worcester were simply not at the races and failed to draw Brad Catlow into any saves of note, as Adaggio and Jagroop had further chances to increase the scoring.
Brown missed a remarkable chance, when he found himself walking the ball towards an unguarded net, but slipping to allow the ball to be cleared.
Catlow was alert to a chance from the hosts in the 77th minute, tipping away Liam Lockett’s free-kick, prior to a Brown effort that was cleared off the line.
Meanwhile, the under-21s achieved a fourth-place finish in MFL Under-21 East, after a commanding 5-1 thrashing of FCV Stamford.
A George Robbins hat-trick, a Ben Thomas screamer and a Josh Bowen strike handed Gate a final-day win, leaving manager Glenn Adams purring.
“Overall it has been a great season – finishing fourth and reaching the final and semi-final of two cups is quite an achievement.
“Going 14 games unbeaten, including 12 wins, was a brilliant run from a real team effort.”
Highgate’s first-team have one final match to look forward to, as they head into the JW Hunt Cup final at Wolverhampton Wanderer’s Molineux Stadium against Sporting Khalsa or Tividale, in the search for silverware on May 13.
