HIGHGATE United will have to settle for Midland League Premier Division football once again next season after narrowly missing out on promotion by two points.
The Coppice Ground side missed out on promotion to Step Four of the non-League pyramid after Coleshill Town pipped them to the runners-up spot.
Despite winning their last three games of the campaign, a three-game winless run prior to that proved costly for United whose promotion challenge faded away.
After battling back to draw 2-2 with Shropshire side Haughmond, Gate then slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Worcester City followed by a 3-1 reverse at Sporting Khalsa.
Those run of results meant Gate were relying heavily on Coleshill dropping points but the Pack Meadow side held their nerve to secure promotion on the final day of the season with a 2-1 victory at Shawbury United.
Highgate’s 5-0 defeat of Coventry United proved in vain.
To make matters worse, if Gate had turned just one of their eight defeats all season into a victory they would have finished one point above Coleshill.
Nevertheless, Gate can look at this season as one of massive improvements having finished ninth in the previous two campaigns.
There is no doubt their name will banded about in the summer as one of the favourites to claim the title next season.
Like most clubs, one of the key challenges over the next couple of months will be to try and tie down their key players.
One player who will be on many radars will be forward Marco Adaggio who has bagged 37 goals in 52 appearances in all competitions.
The former Worcester City hot-shot has led the line superbly and, if United have any hopes of going for a title charge, they will be enhanced by keeping hold of him.
