Kids enjoy a feast of football

This year's William Smith Festival saw 180 youngsters enjoying an Easter feast of football organised by Lancaster City Council.

The annual tournament was once again held at Lancaster City F.C's Giant Axe ground where nineteen teams played in three groups with the top two from each group and the two best third placed teams progressing through to the quarter finals.

The festival format ensured that teams played as many games as possible in the group stages before the competitive knockout games leading to the final. Battling through a mixture of sun and snow the boys and girls from across the district showed how the game should be played, with fun and fair play.

Top of group one were Greatwood 'B' with Scotforth St Paul's ‘A’ in second place. Ryelands also went through to the last eight due to being one of the best third placed teams.

The top two teams from group two were St Peter’s, scoring 12 and only conceding one goal. Dallas Rd ‘A’ were hot on their trail scoring eight goals and only conceding one goal.

From group three Halton St Wilfrid’s topped the group with 13 points with Bowerham Primary finishing second with 11 points. Greatwood ‘A’ were the final team to progress into the quarter finals with the best third placed score with 10 points.

The knockout stages were all tight affairs. Last year’s runners up St Peter's beat Scotforth St Paul’s ‘A’ by an extra time goal. Bowerham overcame Greatwood ‘B’ via a single goal and Halton St Wilfrid’s beat Greatwood ‘A’ to cruise into the semi finals. Dallas Rd A scraped past Ryelands 1-0 via an extra time golden goal.

The competition reached the semi-final stage with any team capable of winning the trophy. St Peters faced the much improved Dallas Rd ‘A’. A well fought encounter meant the game went to the dreaded extra time - golden goal. A great goal by Jack Preston sealed a narrow victory for Dallas Rd ‘A’.

In the other semi-final Halton St Wilfrid’s were comfortable winners beating Bowerham 3-0.

The final saw Dallas Rd ‘A’ hoping to win a trophy that over the years has eluded them. However they had to settle for second place as Halton St Wilfrid’s secured a magnificent and hard fought 2-1 victory.

During the day, Lewis McGinley from Moorside ‘B’ won the penalty competition and Jacob Robertson from St Peters Primary School won the elusive Kings Own Regiment Trophy awarded for the player of the day. As in previous years, all competitors received a medal for taking part.

QUARTER FINALS

HALTON ST WILFRID’S 1         GREATWOOD A 0

SCOTFORTH ST PAUL’S 0       ST PETER’S 1

RYELANDS 0                           DALLAS RD A 1

GREATWOOD B 0                    BOWERHAM 1

SEMI FINALS

ST PETER’S 0                     DALLAS RD A 1

HALTON ST WILFRID’S 3      BOWERHAM 0

FINAL

HALTON ST WILFRID’S 2         DALLAS RD A 1