SOCCER: A youth team from Ipswich finished fifth in a top European football tournament.Bourne Vale Hawks Under-12s were the only English side out of 160 boys' and girls' teams from around the world to take part in the Denmark Soccer Festival, staged at Ishoj near Copenhagen.

SOCCER

A YOUTH team from Ipswich finished fifth in a top European football tournament.

Bourne Vale Hawks Under-12s were the only English side out of 160 boys' and girls' teams from around the world to take part in the Denmark Soccer Festival, staged at Ishoj near Copenhagen.

The team, who play in the Felixstowe & District Youth League, finished fifth out of 17 teams in their age group after winning two, drawing two and losing two of their six matches.

Bourne Vale lost their opening match 3-2 to Swedish side Malmo before thumping FC Haje Prague from the Czech Republic 6-0 and Swedish opponents Alets IK 6-1, after leading 5-0 at half time in both games.

They then faced Eslovs BK, a very physical Swedish side, and drew 2-2 to progress to the second phase of the tournament as group runners-up.

There they met another Swedish side Arlovs BI, who had won all their group games, and despite creating the better chances had to settle for a 0-0 draw before facing the favourites, Copenhagen team KB, who had banged in 33 goals in their five group games.

Although Bourne Vale put up a gallant fight they lost 3-0 to KB, who then confirmed their class by defeating Malmo 3-0 in the final.

Bourne Vale manager Glenn Read said: "The standard was very high, but our boys acquitted themselves well. They battled hard and played some good football and were not outfought by anybody.

"We held our own against both Malmo and KB, who both reached the final, and with a bit more preparation we could perhaps have gone even further."

The 15-strong squad were accompanied by 11 parents on the six-day trip which it is hoped will be repeated next year.