SPORTING Club Inkberrow suffered play-off final heartbreak after losing 2-1 against Malmesbury Victoria.
Inkberrow kept themselves in the game through Connor Stanley’s goal and saw a late equaliser ruled out for a foul as Sporting just missed out on promotion to Step Five at the Flying Monk Ground.
Despite the defeat, Inkberrow can look back on their first season as a Step Six club with great pride having impressed throughout their maiden Hellenic League Division One campaign.
In front of more than 500 spectators, Sporting made a bright start as Jay Higgins-Pugsley saw his early shot parried.
And Declan Green then broke in behind Malmesbury’s high line only for an unfortunate bobble to see the chance thwarted.
However, Malmesbury settled down and broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when Aaron Stevens planted a bullet header past Jude Franks at his near post from Harvey Scholes’ free-kick.
And the home side doubled their lead on the hour mark as Kyle Witt slid the ball home at the back post after good work from George Evatt down the right.
Sporting reduced the deficit soon after when Stanley drove into the box before finding the net in a fine solo effort.
And Inkberrow thought they had drawn level with 10 minutes left to play only for the referee to rule out Green’s goal through a crowd of bodies for a foul on the Malmesbury goalkeeper.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser but were unable to find a leveller in the remaining minutes in a cruel end to Inkberrow’s season.
