BRITANNIA won the Ipswich & South Suffolk Schools Cup last week thanks to a dramatic extra-time win over Hillside.

Stuart Watson

BRITANNIA won the Ipswich & South Suffolk Schools Cup last week thanks to a dramatic extra-time win over Hillside.

The victory sealed the primary school double for Britannia, although a valiant Hillside can count themselves highly unlucky not have taken anything from the season after they lost out on the league title on goal difference.

The final - played on a baking hot day at the training pitch of Ipswich Town's Portman Road - saw the two Year Six sides still deadlocked at 0-0 deep into extra-time.

However, having seen no goals in the previous 47 minutes of football - 20 minutes each way, plus five minutes each way in extra-time - three goals were scored in a frantic final three minutes.

The match burst into life when Hillside snatched what appeared to be a late winner with a good finish from Harley Chapman.

But Britannia threw everyone forward in a last ditch attempt to get an equaliser and, within 30 seconds, they had drawn level when industrious midfielder Keiran Driver scrambled the ball home.

The game seemed destined to go to penalties at this stage, but with a minute to go Britannia striker Luke Mallett, an academy player at Ipswich Town, struck a sweet left foot shot into the back off the net.

Britannia then held on to win the cup for the first time since in the history of the competition.

The victory caps a fine season for the school who also claimed the title in the Large Schools Football League. There were 11 teams who entered this league, which began in September and ended just before Easter, and Britannia won nine of their 10 matches. Hillside had exactly the same league stats as Britannia - played 10, won nine, lost one - but Britannia had a superior goal difference and just piped their closely matched rivals to the title.

Britannia coach Greg Williamson said: “When they scored with three minutes to go I thought that was it, but once we got the equaliser our tails were up and it was a fantastic feeling to see the second goal go in.

“We've had a good set of players this year that have shown a great attitude and lots of enthusiasm. They've put in a lot of hard work and reaped the rewards come the end of the season.”

He added: “It's been a good rivalry with Hillside and their players have been a great credit to their school. They were great in the final and were very gracious in defeat. It's been good to have someone like them to play against.”

Britannia: Josh Bickers, Oliver Brett, Ben Coe, Jordan Garnham, Keiran Driver, Olly Cooper, Luke Mallett, Henry Brett, Kieran O'Carroll, Harry Gaunt.

Hillside: Georgi Thrower, Luke Daly, Damien Pearson, Harley Chapman, Froilan Aficial, Kye Gladwell, Jamal Allen, Toby Heffer, Connor Wood, Tyreek Rose.