Whitworth High footballers just one game away from national semi-final

Whitworth Community High School U12 team

Footballers from Whitworth Community High School are now just one match away from the semi-final of a national trophy.

They faced a tough match away against AKS Lytham in the fifth round of the ESFA Boys Under 12 PlayStation nine-a-side Small Schools’ Cup.

Oliver Brooks, 12, who played centre back, said: “There was a player on the opposing team who played for the Fleetwood Academy team and it was my job to mark him.”

Striker Sam Wellington, 11, said: “A lot of teams we have played against we have won by the closest of margins, but we are now up against teams that have won games by quite a few goals.”

However just before half-time the Lytham team scored.

A motivational team talk sent the Whitworth Year 7 players back onto the pitch determined to fight back.

In the second half, Finley Leech scored a 20-yard volley and Oscar Clutterbuck made it 2-1 to Whitworth after the Lytham goalie dropped the ball and failed to clear.

The next match, to be played after half-term, will be at home against Chantry Middle School from East Northumberland.

Whitworth has previously made it through to the semi-final of the ESFA cup and three of the players in that team also have relatives in the current side.