Simon Weaver ‘ecstatic’ as Wembley win takes Harrogate up to League Two
Harrogate manager Simon Weaver admitted feeling ecstatic after his side stunned Notts County to claim a place in League Two.
The North Yorkshire side reached the English Football League for the first time in their history as they stormed to a 3-1 victory in the Vanarama National League play-off final at Wembley.
Harrogate, who were second in the table when the regular season was curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will now join champions Barrow in the League ranks.
Weaver told BT Sport: “I’m ecstatic at the moment. It hasn’t really penetrated my brain yet. We’ve won the game and it’s a brilliant feeling.
“It’s down to the hard graft of honest lads and honest backroom staff. The culmination of all that has seen us at Wembley and beating Notts County.
“It’s been a great season. I’m so glad we had the chance to finish it off and we have done.
“You could feel it and sense it throughout the season, that something special could happen, and it has done. Everyone has played their part in a brilliant win.
“The only sad thing is we haven’t had the fans with us but we’ve got it all to look forward to now. What a challenge. We’re going to enjoy the moment.”
George Thomson and Connor Hall struck for Harrogate in a dominant first half and Jack Diamond settled the contest 20 minutes from time after Callum Roberts gave County hope.
The result condemned the Magpies, founder members of the Football League, to a second successive season outside of it.
Manager Neal Ardley said: “We knew they would come out fast. They have got a record of scoring first and coming at teams.
“We worked hard to be ready for it but ultimately, on the day, the best team won.
“In the first half they were at it. We were little bit at sixes and sevens.
“We changed things around at half-time and got some momentum, got that goal, and that’s when it was in the balance.
“But we needed to make sure we didn’t concede and unfortunately we didn’t. That killed us off.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub