DECLAN Green’s first-half goal helped Sporting Club Inkberrow to a 1-0 win against FC Stratford as the Berrow secured a fifth straight home victory in the league.
Green scored the only goal of the game on 16 minutes as the Berrow bounced back from their weekend defeat with a narrow win at the Inkberrow Recreation Ground.
The result means Inkberrow sit fourth in the Hellenic League Division One table, five points behind leaders Clanfield 85.
Inkberrow handed a first-ever league start to 17-year-old striker Oliver Smith who impressed just behind goalscorer Green in attack.
And Sporting broke the deadlock just past the quarter-hour mark when Green finished from close range from Alex Quaynor’s pass after good work from Luke Allcock and Tom Emblem.
The home side pressed for a second goal but were denied by some excellent goalkeeping and a series of rushed passes in the final third.
Inkberrow almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half time as the Stratford goalkeeper made a superb one-handed save to keep out Max-Emilios Angelides at the near post.
Stratford kept themselves in the game in the second period and won a penalty with 10 minutes left to play after Angelides committed a foul in the box.
However, the resulting penalty struck the crossbar and bounced to safety as Sporting saw out the remaining minutes to secure a narrow win.
Inkberrow are next in action at home to Malmesbury Victoria on Saturday, November 4 with kick-off at 3pm at the Inkberrow Recreation Ground.
