It’s been a fantastic season for the boys’ football team: winning all but one of their games in both league and cup fixtures. The one team that ‘Les Bleus’ had fallen short to in the league was Keston Primary, with an agonising 2-1 defeat. On 16th May, the boys played in the Bromley & Orpington Shield final, against…you guessed it…Keston!!

The game started off at a steady pace, with both sides battling well, not wanting to make any early mistakes. Ten minutes into the first half, an unfortunate handball in the box presented Keston with a penalty and a chance to take an early lead. To the delight of the La Fontaine crowd, the penalty was dragged wide! Keeping the score at 0-0! With minutes to go in the first half, Max S hit an unbelievable strike (from his own half of the pitch!!) to send both La Fontaine 1-0 ahead and the crowd into pandemonium!

The second half started just as tentatively as the first half did, with neither team wanting to concede an early goal. La Fontaine took control of the game, with Seb and Matthew linking up together wonderfully (as they have done all season) trying to find that all important second goal. The boys kept up the pressure, but a freak moment of play was about to happen: the Keston goalkeeper launched an almighty kick of the ball up the pitch, only for it to take an awkward bounce over a devastated Max A in goal and end up in the back of the net (but not to worry, all will be revealed why shortly!). 1-1 with 10 minutes left to play. Football had now turned into tennis, with both teams searching for a winner in the final stages. But to no avail, the game finished a draw.

Ten minutes of extra time still couldn’t separate the two teams, with Jude and Denis as solid as a brick wall in defence making sure we didn’t go behind. Then, came the dreaded penalties. Brace yourselves, this could take a while….

Just as in the match, even penalties were struggling to separate the two sides. After 5 penalties each, it was 1-1, with Emmanuel slotting his penalty home in a cool manner. The penalty shootout went on…and on…AND ON! In fact every player, including the goalkeepers took at least 2 penalties EACH! Penalties from Seb and Matthew put pressure on Keston to keep the cup alive, which they did! Jude then smashed home a fantastic penalty, followed up by his signature “griddy” celebration!  Now for the main hero of the match, Max A. Max A had already saved 8 sudden death penalties to prevent Keston winning the cup! Penalty 35 (really!) of the match, the Keston goalkeeper stepped up to take it and… SAVED!

The La Fontaine crowd went wild and the squad ran to celebrate with our fantastic goalkeeper! La Fontaine are the CHAMPIONS!

Congratulations to every member of the squad in the final, you have been outstanding this season and are well deserving of your winners’ medals!