HIGHGATE United pulled further away from the relegation places in the Midland Football League Premier Division as Stefan Moore and Isaac Jagroop fired the goals in a 2-0 win over Loughborough University.
Goals in either half presented the points to Ashley Pulisciano’s side against the student side, extending their unbeaten run to four games in the process.
Highgate were without Richard Bryan and Duane Courtney for this encounter, with the pair serving one-match bans, whilst Lei Brown remains suspended until the end of January.
Departures in the form of Connor Deards moving to Alcester Town and Dylan Barkers returning to parent club Solihull Moors had depleted squad depth badly for Pulisciano, though it presented an opportunity for under-21 prospect Dan McCarthy on the bench for the first-time.
Loughborough were perhaps the team that looked in the ascendancy with their play but came away empty handed at The Coppice, in part thanks to Bradley Catlow’s performance for the Gate.
An opener arrived in the 18th minute, when home defender Exodus Geohaghon pumped a long ball over the opposition back line to play through Stefan Moore, who controlled and out-muscled Joel Bonner to dink a strike over Loughborough keeper George Hobbs.
The opening half only had half-chances of note to mention, with the second-half continuing in similar fashion, Loughborough banging on the Highgate door but Catlow there to silence them with his shot stopping.
Marco Adaggio teed up Jagroop to slip the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net, putting the seal on a first win since 17th November.
Next up for the Gate is a midweek fixture away to Lye Town on Tuesday 22nd January, before Coventry United are next to visit The Coppice on Saturday 26th.
For the latest from The Coppice, be sure to check out The Gate TV – Highgate United’s official YouTube channel for more coverage from the club: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0UhetY0dv88H_5CO5uzpCQ?view_as=subscriber
