DISTRICT FOOTBALL

ENGLISH SCHOOLS TROPHY Islington & Camden 5 Maidstone 6

FOUR goals from Kai Barrett were not enough for Islington & Camden Under-13s district boys as they bowed out of the English Schools Trophy on Saturday.

In a hugely entertaining game at St Aloysius Playing Fields, Islington & Camden stormed back from 3-1 down at half-time to lead 4-3, only for more defensive lapses to see them trail 6-4.

Even then Islington & Camden almost forced extra-time as Barrett scored another goal and then skipper Tony Guppy saw his last-minute free-kick fly over the bar.

“It’s a great shame to go out and there were a few excuses we could use,” said coach Jim de Garis. “But in the end we just didn’t defend well enough and defending like that we were never going to go much further in the tournament.”

One of those excuses was that Barrett and his twin brother Kane both arrived late for the game and had to be named on the bench, and by the time they came on for the second half, Islington & Camden were 3-1 behind despite a goal from Tony Guppy.

Kenny Aileru also came on at the break, and together with the Barrett brothers the trio had quite an impact – within 15 minutes Islington & Camden led 4-3 with Kai Barrett (St Aloysius’ College) scoring a quickfire hat-trick.

But the defensive errors that had plagued the district side in the first half returned and despite Barrett giving them late hope, Maidstone held on to go through.

Islington & Camden Under-13s: Sehragg (Devonshire House); Charles-Nelson (Hampstead); Antwi (Central Foundation); Leninite, Kane Barrett, Kai Barrett, Lita-Masseume (all St Aloysius); Guppy (capt), Rennick, Figueroa, Laki (all Acland Burghley); Aileru, Bramble (both COLAI); Goff, (St Mary Magdalene Academy), Husseyin, Wanty.