Trojans Reserves lift the title

The champagne corks were popping in Burley on Saturday night as Trojans Reserves clinched the Harrogate League Third Division title.

The trophy is the first league title won by the club since they joined the Harrogate and District League back in the Seventies.

After 19 barren years, the team has now won honours in two consecutive seasons, adding the title to last years Spa Cup success.

Gary Shankland's side have thoroughly deserved their success, performing consistently throughout, and the mix of youth and experience should stand them in good stead as they take their bow in Division Two next season.

Marton-cum-Grafton are doughty opponents as they showed last week and once again they threatened to gatecrash the party with their stubborn resistance.

Trojans had the comfort of an early Shankland strike to calm their nerves but they had to wait until the last minute for Mark Carroll to put the seal on the result.

Shankland opened the scoring on 15 minutes when he found himself in acres of space and he kept his head to despatch his finish beyond 'keeper Richard Symmonds.

On the half hour the visitors deservedly levelled when Martin Blackburn was left unattended and he steered his low shot past Michael Sant.

Trojans replied with Pete Spivey heading wide at full stretch and then Keiren Hanogue delayed his shot when Steve Nelson picked him out with a right wing free-kick and half- time arrived with the sides level.

Surely Trojans weren't going to let the title slip from their grasp at this late stage in the season. This was the cue for Gareth Goodison to make his impact.

Five minutes after the break the prolific teenage striker pounced, latching on to Rob Wheeler's cross to flick home his 38th goal of the season.

Trojans were visibly lifted by the goal and began to play with more belief but the visitors remained a threat and Steven Moss forced Sant into a smart save at his near post.

With 20 minutes remaining Trojans gave themselves breathing space with a well-worked third goal.

From Wheeler's deep right wing cross Spivey rose to nod back across goal where Steve Hitchen was lurking to head past the despairing Symmonds.

The visitors' resistance wavered as Trojans began to pepper Symmonds' goal at every opportunity.

Man-of the-Match Hanogue saw a long range effort tipped over and then Goodison fired narrowly wide.

The introduction of young substitute Carroll livened things up and he set up Hitchen but his touch deserted him with just the 'keeper to beat. Hanogue and Goodison again went close as Trojans scented glory.

With 90 minutes on the clock Wheeler picked out Carroll with a quick throw in and his 25 yard shot squirmed through the grasp of the unfortunate Symmonds and crept over the line to spark off the celebrations.