Inglewood United have been left to ponder what might have been after this afternoon’s 1-0 home loss to ECU Joondalup denied the club their first league title in twenty years.   Despite the loss, Inglewood ended the home and away series in second position to claim their best end-of-season placing since topping the ladder in 1996.

Inglewood, playing with the benefit of a strong breeze, enjoyed the better of the first half with early half chances coming the way of Scott Blackmore and Calum O’Connell.   It was Brian Woodall that came closest to breaking through on 26 minutes with a spectacular bicycle kick which was desperately hacked away on the line.

Goalkeeper Alex Dunn was called into action for the first time by Daryl Nicol as the visitors started the second stanza on the front foot.   Woodall looked to give Inglewood the lead with a rasping drive that rose over the crossbar, and down the opposite end it was Tommy Amphlett who wasn’t too far off the mark.

With the clock ticking down Inglewood stepped up the intensity.   Woodall’s far post delivery narrowly evaded Scott Witschge and minutes later Lewis Italiano threw out a glove to deny Mark Pritchard.   The game looked destined to finish scoreless when Andy Higgins’ wind-assisted corner broke Inglewood hearts.

Match stats

Inglewood United 0
ECU Joondalup 1 (Andy Higgins 91)

Inglewood United: Alex Dunn, Scott Blackmore, Adam Tong, David Cyrus, Calum O’Connell (Josh Pereira 87), Jason Colli (Scott Witschge 75), Jason Barrera, Tim Robertson, Ashley Rosindale (Mark Pritchard 68), Kenny Keogh, Brian Woodall

ECU Joondalup: Lewis Italiano, Cian Hirrell, Rikki Smith, Ryan Lowry, Andy Higgins, Tommy Amphlett, Steve McGarry, Shane Pickering, Kevin Moon, Daryl Nicol, Gordon Smith (Paddy Doyle 27 (Jayden Drummond 93))

Bookings: Keogh (22), O’Connell (55), Tong (75), McGarry (80)

Dismissals: Nil