TALENTED footballers from Gawsworth County Primary School found the winning formula in the recent Ciba 7s tournament.
The team from the Longbutts Lane school retained the trophy they won last year, edging out St Albans Primary School in a rain-drenched final to take home the chemical manufacturers’ trophy.
Now in its 41st year, the Ciba 7s tournament’s finals day saw four semi-finalists battling it out in the seven-a-side boys’ competition. Upton Priory and Prestbury Primary Schools’ girls teams were also in action.
The day also included a penalty shoot-out and Player-of-the-Day award.
The teams who qualified for the last four were Gawsworth, Bollinbrook, St Alban’s and St Barnabus schools.
St Alban’s scored the only goal of their semi-final against Bollinbrook but Gawsworth needed a penalty shoot-out to knock out St Barnabus.
After the semi-finals, the girls’ final, between Upton Priory and Prestbury, was contested, with Upton winning an entertaining clash 1-0.
A dozen schools were represented in the penalty shoot-out, with Macclesfield Boys’ Under-14 goalkeepers providing the resistance between the posts.
Although four players went into the final round with 100 per cent records, only Gawsworth’s Oliver Quinn converted his final spot-kick.
After the shoot-out came the final sevens game between Gawsworth and St Albans.
Despite a torrential downpour, both teams’ enthusiasm was evident, with Gawsworth coming out on top.
The Kathryn Leonard Player-of-the-Day award went to Mya Whyatt from Upton Priory’s girls, who demonstrated natural skills and great awareness of match play throughout.
All those involved offered their thanks to Caroline Massey of hosts Hollinhey Primary School for organising the event and Hazel Simpson of sponsors Ciba UK, who presented the winners’ trophies.
