Under-par Clanfield fall at first play-off hurdle again

Clanfield 85 0-3 Sporting Club Inkberrow

Clanfield 85 suffered play-off heartbreak for a third year in a row as they succumbed to defeat against Sporting Club Inkberrow.

An early goal from Jay Higgins-Pugsley, after a mistake from Luke Haley, was an early hammer blow for Jamie Butt’s men.

Defeat was confirmed in the second half after a Tom Emblem penalty and a Leo Brown strike.

They will play Malmesbury Victoria in the final after they beat Devizes Town in the other semi-final on Tuesday night.

Clanfield were hoping to make it third time lucky after back-to-back defeats at this stage of the play-offs, including the dramatic penalty shootout loss to Milton United last season.After another strong season this time around, they finished third in Hellenic League Division One, two points behind second-placed Malmesbury.

They finished their league campaign with wins against Chipping Sodbury Town and coincidently Inkberrow, although on Saturday they lost on penalties in the Supplinentary Cup against University of Bristol.

Inkberrow finished fourth after a fantastic first season at step 6 following promotion from the Herefordshire League (despite being based in Worcestershire). The team only formed in 2016 as an offshoot of Inkberrow FC.

They suffered an early blow when someone was sent off from their bench, but despite Clanfield starting on the front foot, goalkeeper Haley sloppily gifted the ball to Higgins-Pugsley, who had an easy finish.

Clanfield controlled possession but struggled to fully utilise it in the final third. George Seacole had a couple of chances blocked whilst John Dennis and Tyler Hall also put efforts over the bar.

They were vulnerable on the counter and almost conceded a second late in the half. Connor Stanley’s cross found Declan Green but he was denied at close range by Haley.

Clanfield had come from two down after the break against Milton a year ago but they lacked inspiration this time.

Higgins-Pugsley came close to a second for Inkberrow, firing just past the top corner, and after a good spell of pressure from the visitors, Connor McGrath caught Robert Guy in the box with Emblem converting the result spot kick.

Clanfield’s best chance of the game came from a superb ball from Hall to find substitute Jack Gaul, but his effort was saved by Jude Franks.

It was an Inkberrow sub that made it game, set and match. Free in the box, the ball found its way to Brown to score the third.

A gutting result for Clanfield but sadly it was what their performance deserved on the night. Good luck to Inkberrow, and Malmesbury, in the final.

Clanfield 85 (4-2-3-1): Haley; Weller (Dickinson 76’), Elkins (c), Pirie, McGrath; King (Fullerton 69’), Kay; Kimber, Hall, Dennis (Harry 56’); Seacole (Gaul 62’). Unused sub: Connor.

Sporting Club Inkberrow (4-2-3-1): Franks; Griffiths (Guy 63’), Coughlin (c), McDonald, Angelides; Guy, Benson; Emblem (Steer 90+2’), Higgins-Pugsley (Smith 87’), Stanley (Alcock 82’); Green (Brown 66’).

Goals: Higgins-Pugsley 9’, Emblem 68’ (P), Brown 79’

Booked: Weller 74’; Guy 16’, Stanley 31’.