Bostik North: Forward Ralston Gabriel buzzing to enjoy promotion success with Haringey Borough family
Ralston Gabriel with the match ball - after one of the four hat-tricks he scored for Haringey Borough in the 2017/18 season (pic: Tony Gay) - Credit: Archant
The forward scored his 32nd goal of the campaign on Sunday to help the Coles Park club seal promotion to the Bostik Premier
Haringey Borough’s top goalscorer Ralston Gabriel sung the praises of his Coles Park family after the north Londoners sealed promotion from the Bostik North on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Canvey Island in the play-off final.
Tom Loizou’s men took the lead in the 73rd minute through Mark Kirby and a penalty from star striker Gabriel doubled their advantage 10 minutes later.
Canvey pulled one back in stoppage time, but Borough substitute Michael Ademiluyi sealed promotion with a third goal following Gabriel’s through ball to secure promotion to the Bostik Premier in front of 809 spectators at Coles Park.
It was a fitting way for Haringey to end the term and the victory was their 10th in a row which showed how well Loizou’s men finished the campaign.
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Gabriel said: “The run was amazing and we always come strong at the end of the season. We had a little blip in November, but we fought back together and come together as a team.
“We are like a family at Haringey Borough and this is what we do – work for each other – and I’m so pleased it has resulted in promotion.
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“I’m buzzing, absolutely buzzing. This was our motivation at the start of the season and we’ve had to do it the hard way, but we ended up doing it.”
Borough’s impressive cup exploits threatened to derail their hopes of promotion, but Gabriel revealed once they were knocked out of the FA Cup and FA Trophy all the focus turned to the league.
Haringey reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, but were defeated 4-2 at home to Bostik North rivals Heybridge Swifts on October 14.
Two months later they reached the first round of the FA Trophy and produced a fine display in a 2-1 loss at Coles Park to National League side Leyton Orient.
Once those runs were over, Borough focused on the Bostik North and despite a number of injuries, they only lost four games between January 1 and their final game of the campaign on May 6 – the play-off final.
“It has been a great season,” said Gabriel. “We enjoyed the FA Cup and FA Trophy runs, but once we got knocked out we focused on the league. It was all about getting our mind right and our body right and that’s what we did.”
Although this campaign is over now, the focus has already turned to what Haringey can achieve in the Bostik Premier.
Gabriel added: “We are raring to go. This is what we’ve wanted for so long. We wanted promotion last season, we fell short, but this time around we knew we were stronger and we have done it. It is amazing.”
