Harrogate Town 1 Concord Rangers 0 - Veteran Josh Falkingham’s savours goal which won the FA Trophy

With the date moved twice due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2019/20 edition of the competition came to a close with Josh Falkingham’s second-half strike sealing a 1-0 win for Harrogate.

With the club now playing in Sky Bet League Two following promotion at the end of last season, Simon Weaver’s side were pushed all the way by their National League South opponents.

Rangers did well not to succumb to early pressure and enjoyed a spell of their own possession as the first half wore on.

Will Smith had an early chance for Harrogate, with George Thomson also having a decent opening.

Experienced striker Jon Stead came close twice, while at the other end Concord midfielder Sam Blackman had their best opportunity before the break. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Harrogate getting into more dangerous positions before breaking the deadlock 15 minutes from the end.

Jack Muldoon’s fine run ended with a shot which struck a post, the ball falling into the path of Falkingham, who turned in the rebound to win the trophy for the first time in Harrogate’s history.

Afterwards Falkingham hailed his winning goal saying: “It’s the best feeling ever.

“As players, not just me, there’s a small group of us who have come through the journey from National League North, who have made some incredible memories.

“My first day at the club I remember being sat in the car with Ben Parker and I said ‘we’ll be going to Wembley one day’. I just had that feeling. I didn’t expect to come twice in a year, and not just come twice, but win twice,” said the 30-year-old ex-Leeds United midfielder, who arrived at Wetherby Road when the club was still in the sixth tier.

“These are just amazing, amazing times. I’m just absolutely delighted for every single person involved.”

“These people, they’re not just colleagues, they’re good friends and that just makes what we have achieved all the more special.”

What perhaps made that magical moment even more special for Falkingham personally is the fact that his decisive 76th-minute strike was his very first of the season.

“It’s not like me is it, to find myself only five yards out from goal,” he joked.

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