Kids’ Cup agony

FOOTBALL: Agony was mixed with pride as Christ Church C of E Primary School's brave football team bowed out of the npower Kids’ Cup competition at the regional finals yesterday in Walsall.

Representing Athletic and hoping to book a dream date at Wembley for the Grand Finals day in May, Christ Church missed out on qualification for yesterday's final by a single point.

Fourteen npower League One clubs were represented. Christ Church got off to a flying start, beating Preston North End 1-0, Shrewsbury Town 3-1, Scunthorpe United 2-1 and Hartlepool United 3-0.

Everything looked rosy, but a 0-0 draw against Sheffield United and a 1-0 defeat by Coventry City proved decisive.

City had won 14 points to Christ Church's 13, and City went on to beat Crewe Alexandra 3-1 in the final to seal their Wembley place.