JUNIOR FOOTBALL: Nene Park Academy are schools champions, Sports miss out in county cup final and Star shine at the seaside

Peterborough Schools Year 11 champions Nene Park Academy. Picture: RWT Photography

Nene Park’s best work came in the first half and they deservedly turned round with a 4-1 lead through goals by Taylor Steward (2), captain Bradley Rolt and Owen Gilbert with William Palmer striking for Hampton.

Jazleigh Fife and Jay Whyatt breathed life into Hampton’s hopes with comeback goals but that only spurred Nene Park on and they added two more goals through Rolt and Jaime Baxter.

Peterborough Sports were in the final of the Northants Under 18 David Joyce Cup last night with hopes high after knocking out Posh in the semi-finals.

Peterborough Schools Year 11 Cup runners-up Hampton. Picture: RWT Photography

But they came up against an excellent AFC Rushden and Diamonds side and were beaten 2-0 in the decider at Corby Town.

Peterborough Northern Star had four of their junior teams in action at the ESF Festival of Football weekend at Butlins in Skegness - an event which attracted 200 teams, 2,000 young footballers and featured 750 games.

All four Star teams managed to win through their group stage and advanced to the knockout rounds.

The Under 8s and Under 9s were both narrowly beaten in the quarter-finals and the Under 10s were pipped in the semis.

Nene Park Academy skipper Bradley Rolt receives the trophy from referee Stewart Francis. Picture: RWT Photography

But the Under 11 squad managed to win through to the final and took the honours on penalties. They are now invited to play at St Georges Park in a Champion of Champions tournament in July.

The successful squad, managed by Jamie Pinguenet, was James Laud, Ben Noble, Noah Tizi, Charlie Morgan, Alex Gavaghan, Harry Pinguenet, Freddie Bedford, Jake Currall, Jake Harden and Dylan Bayley.