SPORTING Club Inkberrow clinched the Herefordshire County League Premier Division finishing a single point ahead of title rivals Ledbury Town.
With the New Street side breathing down their necks Inkberrow knew they needed to win at Holme Lacy to win the league title.
For a very brief period there was the slightest flicker of hope for Ledbury as news with Holme Lacy grabbing a goal back through Harry Simpson to make it 2-1 at half-time at their village-based ground.
However, the visitors would not be denied and scored four further goals in the second half to secure a thumping 6-1 win to seal the title, sparking jubilant scenes.
Ledbury had themselves to blame after a crushing equaliser scored by goalkeeper Daniel Hughes for mid-table Welland held them to a 3-3 draw last weekend.
The second placed side ran out 3-0 winners against Wellington Rangers in their final match of the season to finish agonisingly close to the league title.
Ben Miller and Ben Febery both found the net during the first half of a fixture which had to take place more than a month after its original date due to a waterlogged pitch at New Street at the very end of March.
Despite home man of the match Tyler Weir later going on to cement a final three points for his side, it soon became clear that Merrick’s valiant squad were going to have to settle for the runners-up spot for a second consecutive season.
Hereford Pegasus Reserves finished their season in style with a 4-0 victory over Fownhope thanks to a brace from Freddie Fox while Harvey Evans and Saul Thomas netted the others.
Fownhope are playing catchup and went on to beat Wellington Rangers 3-2 on Tuesday night with Keiran Chambers, Ryan Halford and Sam Lewis all scoring. The final set of league fixtures sees Fownhope take on Tenbury United (2.30pm), while Holme Lacy face Welland (2.30pm).
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