THE footballers from St Ippolyts Primary School are national finalists for the second year running. The Year Five/Six team, who earlier in the year retained their county sixes ESFA title, journeyed to Greenwich at the weekend to attempt to retain their re

THE footballers from St Ippolyts Primary School are national finalists for the second year running. The Year Five/Six team, who earlier in the year retained their county sixes ESFA title, journeyed to Greenwich at the weekend to attempt to retain their regional crown.

On a bitterly cold morning, the team displayed strength and determination to win through to the final against Beacon Hill.

The game went to extra-time and St Ippolyts, despite being the stronger team, narrowly lost on penalties against the team which they had beaten 3-1 on their way to the final. Despite only being the regional runners-up, they still retained their place in the national sixes ESFA Finals at Keele University in the summer.

St Ippolyts head teacher Maggie Nelson said: "We are so proud of the commitment and enthusiasm displayed by our boys - they deserve their place in the finals."

Helen Smith, the Year Six teacher who has coached both national finalist teams , said she was "over the moon" at the success of the current side.