The final match of our Y5/6 boys’ football season saw us welcome Chilton Primary School to our school field. As is often the case with the last game of a season, there was plenty riding on the outcome. If we won by five clear goals, we would overtake Goring – who had already played all of their matches – and claim the league title. Chilton would achieve the same thing if they could beat us by seven clear goals. With nothing to lose and everything to play for, one of the most entertaining games ever seen on our school field took place.

Knowing the huge (but not impossible) task ahead of us, we flew out of the traps and were a goal up within minutes. Harvey sent a long goal kick into the opposition penalty area, the ball rebounded off of the Chilton keeper and fell nicely into the path of Ben who tapped the ball into the net.

The best possible start.

The best start which became even better.

Harvey launched another goal kick down the field, and this time it had something extra on it. Something so ‘extra’ that it flew into the corner of the net to double our lead. 2-0 up inside the opening minutes, and all of a sudden mission almost impossible looked very much possible.

More chances came and went. Oliver, Charlie and Ben all had close range efforts blocked superbly by Chilton defenders. Jack beat the Chilton keeper to the ball but his lob would bounce just too high, clipping the crossbar before heading out for a goal kick.

Not long after, there was another unfortunate bounce. But this one came from a Chilton goal kick, and ended up rebounding off of one of our defenders and falling just perfectly for the Chilton striker to roll it into the bottom corner. A frantic first half saw us go in 2-1 up at half time, and now needing another four goals to win the league.

Within moments of the second half starting, we had scored two of them. The first was another goal kick from Harvey that seemed to go all the way through the crowd of players and into the net for his second of the game, although there was (and may still be) some debate that Oliver had the final touch. Either way, we were 3-1 up, and the score became 4-1 when the ball was worked to Jack on the edge of the box. He took a touch before driving a low strike into the far corner and for the second time that afternoon, it looked as if our ultimate aim could be achieved.

With time running out and in desperate need of two more goals, it was inevitable that Chilton would create chances of their own, and a throw in level with our penalty box was headed into the roof of our net. Soon after, they scored a third – another header – and even though we were still winning the game, the league trophy had all but evaded us.

Despite this, the boys did their best to remain solid at the back. Xander, Louie, Albie, Kit, Adomas and Zachary, in various combinations of a back three, had done all they could to prevent Chilton scoring a equaliser. But moments from the end, Chilton made it 4-4 to complete a superb comeback. An outstanding cross from the right curved perfectly for the oncoming Chilton attacker, who nodded the ball home to end the scoring and send the game to a penalty shootout.

Just as with the girls’ league, two points are awarded to each side for a draw, but each game needs to have a winner. This is decided by a penalty shootout, the winner of which receives an extra bonus point. As is common in professional shootouts, there is a best of five format before entering the lottery of sudden death.

Ten perfect penalties meant there was still no way to separate the sides, and we entered sudden death with the shootout score standing at 5-5.

It was soon 6-6, and the pressure ramped up another notch.

Chilton took first.

Harvey saved it. The first penalty miss of the day.

Albie stepped up knowing that if he scored, we would win.

Score was exactly what he did, and the bonus point was ours.

A dramatic end to a season in which every boy that has represented our school in the league has grown, improved and shown huge character to not only get us back into the title race after losing our first game, but to almost eclipse a five goal margin and then recover from losing a 4-1 lead to win a penalty shootout. Once all was said and done, we finished the season in second place.

As always, a big thank you to Dr Loader for refereeing, a massive thanks to those who have helped along the way and a special mention for those who came to support us on Tuesday and were part of a bumper crowd on our school field.

The team was: Harvey B, Xander O’B-W, Louie D, Albie H, Ben N, Charlie C, Oliver J, Adomas B, Kit G, Zachary H and Jack S.