Could the two sides in the National League final be more different?

Notts County 2 : 0 Barnet

Harrogate Town 1 : 0 BorehamWood

The two north v south battles for that final place in League Two saw a comprehensive northern victory on Saturday.

But apart from the fact that they beat Barnet and Boreham Wood, sides from the Home Counties, the two sides who will meet at Wembley have very little in common football wise.

East Midlands side Notts County swept Barnet aside at Meadow Lane with goals from Kristian Dennis and Callum Roberts. They are seeking an immediate return to the Football League, an institution they have graced for most of their existence.

Dennis headed County into the lead in the 37th minute from six yards assisted by Jim O’Brien. 14 minutes after half time, Roberts made it 2-0 with a superb solo effort.

So the side redolent with tradition from a footballing heartland that includes city rivals Forest, Derby County, Leicester, Chesterfield and Mansfield will be heading to Wembley.

The side they will meet there could not be in starker contrast. Harrogate Town have never played in the Football League. To outsiders, the town is more famous for  the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest, party conferences and Yorkshire Tea. It’s on the cusp of adding football to that.

A Jack Muldoon goal in the 65th minute saw off Boreham Wood, the side from Hertfordshire. The club with the unusual nickname of Sulphurites are set to join Middlesbrough as North Yorkshire’s only league representation.

They only turned professional in 2017. Promotion would mean having to replace their artificial surface.

County and Harrogate meet at Wembley on August 2, the day after the FA Cup Final. One of those sides will join Barrow, who were automatically promoted.

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