The season is over for Inglewood United after stumbling 2-1 to Balcatta at Grindleford Reserve.   Substitute Feisal Zaw netted midway through the second half but by that stage the damage had already been done and the history books will show Inglewood as finishing the 2018 National Premier Leagues in fifth place.

Balcatta entered the afternoon in the relegation mix so it was hardly surprising that they came out strongly.   However, despite enjoying the better of possession the home side had little to show for their efforts.   The first chance of note came via the away team with Ellis Healing clipping a dead ball into the arms of Kyle McDonald.

The dour game flickered to life just before the half hour, O’Connell converting from the spot after Asher Nelson went down under Jamie Murphy’s challenge.   Shortly after Jason Barrera volleyed wide a great chance to level, and down the other end Alex Dunn was called on to deny Lawrence Shuruma.

A needless turnover early in the second half gifted the ball to Alex Wild who surged forward to double Balcatta’s lead.   The high point of Inglewood’s afternoon came on 69 minutes in the form of a precision downward Zaw header after meeting Kenny Keogh’s near post cross from the right.

Match stats

Balcatta 2 (Callum O’Connell 29, Alex Wild 53)
Inglewood United 1 (Fiesal Zaw 69)

Balcatta: Kyle McDonald, Tom Pellizzari, Hayden Stevens, Carmelo Giuffre, Robert Del Borrello, Jonathan Corness, Shubham Mokala, Asher Nelson (Nicholas Challot 76), Calum O’Connell, Lawrence Shuruma, Alex Wild

Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Alex Ishida-Livings, Connor Becsi (Scott Blackmore 61), Brian Farrell, Scott Robertson, Kenny Keogh, Jason Barrera, Ellis Healing (Feisal Zaw 53), Jamie Murphy, Brian Woodall, Alex Salmon

Bookings: O’Connell (80), Blackmore (84), Zaw (90)

Dismissals: Nil