FOOTBALLERS from Haverstock School in Chalk Farm delivered a thrilling performance to lift the Islington & Camden Schools Football Association Year 7 Ritchie Cup.

Facing Acland Burghley in the final at St Aloysius Playing Fields in Hurst Avenue, Haverstock (above) made a confident start.

Their attacking intent paid off with well-taken goals from Okpe Sagay-Obels and Rahmel Bradshaw giving them a 2-0 advantage going into half-time – a lead they protected thanks to a colossal defensive display from captain Marcel Ennis Miles.

Burghley, which is based in Tufnell Park, never gave up and battled back to level the scores at 2-2 – and with neither side able to find a winner in regular time, the final was decided by a tense penalty shootout.

Haverstock held their nerve when it mattered most.

Korey Donovan, Bradshaw, and Sudays Hersi all confidently converted their spot-kicks, while Sebastian Cox-Di Genova proved to be the hero in goal with two excellent saves to spark wild celebrations among the players and supporters.

Under the guidance of their coach Daniel Michaels, the talented Year 7 squad have enjoyed an exceptional season. They ended up winning eight of their nine fixtures, scoring a staggering 41 goals along the way.