SPORTING Club Inkberrow returned to winning ways in their final game of the year with a 2-0 home victory against play-off rivals FC Bristol.
Goals in either half from Oliver Smith and Jay Higgins-Pugsley sealed a fine win at the Inkberrow Recreation Ground while Bristol had a player sent off just past the hour mark.
That came after Inkberrow drew 1-1 with Cheltenham Saracens on Boxing Day after conceding deep into injury time after Nathan Benson broke the deadlock late on at Petersfield Park.
The results mean Inkberrow sit fifth in the Hellenic League Division One table, six points clear of the chasing pack in the race for a play-off spot.
Against Bristol, the Berrow took the lead on 25 minutes when Smith scored from six-yards out after good work from Max-Emilios Angelides and Declan Green.
Bristol spurned a glorious chance to draw level before the break as a header flashed across the face of the Inkberrow goal from close range.
And the visitors then had a player sent off on 65 minutes for a second bookable offence.
Inkberrow made the most of the man advantage to seal the points on 80 minutes as Higgins-Pugsley finished off a fine move from 10-yards out.
On Boxing Day, against Cheltenham, the home side hit the post early on before Higgins-Pugsley saw his shot come back off the woodwork at the other end.
Inkberrow eventually opened the scoring on 80 minutes as Benson slid the ball home from eight-yards out after Cheltenham failed to deal with a corner.
However, Cheltenham equalised in the final minute of injury time as Jamie Goodwin headed home from seven-yards out to deny Inberrow the points.
Inkberrow are next in action at home to Hartpury University on Saturday, January 6 with kick-off at 3pm at the Inkberrow Recreation Ground.
