Diamonds sparkle at Selsey

The 11-a-side tournament started with a match against Middlesex county champions Hayes Town. Diamonds went a goal behind in the first minute but battled back to take a 2-1 advantage only for Hayes to equalise with seconds remaining.

Then came Horndean, Portsmouth’s B League champions, who Diamonds beat 2-1. Banbury, who are Oxford’s Premier League champions, lost 3-0 to Diamonds. Max Daniels and Terry Cobb were terrorising defences.

The last match on Saturday was against Yeading, the West Middlesex Premier League champions. The Diamonds defence of George Button, Ben Roberts and Jordan Layton looked unbreakable and Diamonds won 3-0.

On Sunday Monotype of Surrey were next to be beaten with Ross Edwards, Phil Read, Ben Pett and Matt Hambleton bossing the midfield.

Against Coulsdon, Diamonds again controlled the game with Harry Hendrick man of the match. It finished 1-0.

The same against Selsey brought Diamonds another 1-0 win.

Then against Caterham, Diamonds needed a draw to qualify for the final. But they hit top form, winning 4-0.

The final saw Diamonds meet the impressive Hayes once more.

Diamonds took a 1-0 lead through a Roberts penalty and with Jack Congdon dominating play Diamonds looked home and dry – only for Hayes to grab a last-minute equaliser and force a penalty shootout.

Diamonds missed their first two while Hayes scored theirs. Diamonds looked down but brilliant keeper Zak Boniface, who is attracting a lot of interest from professional clubs, dived to his left and saved a shot no-one thought he could get to.

This spurred on Diamonds and they scored their next two, with Hayes missing three.

Up stepped ice-cool George Button to slot home his penalty – and Diamonds had won the cup.