Whybridge Junior School 1

Dollis Junior School 2

Dollis Junior School, Mill Hill, are the pride of the Barnet Borough after a spectacular cup success this week.

They travelled to Essex for the London Schools' FA Black Cup final and overcame formidable Havering League champions Whybridge Junior School, Rainham, in their own back yard in a thriller on Thursday.

Whybridge were favourites, having scored 15 goals without reply, including two 5-0 away successes, on the way to the final.

But Dollis, who had turned a 3-1 deficit into a 5-4 semi-final victory over Rise Park, Kent, showed the same battling qualities to overcome their skilful opponents.

Whybridge's three leading scorers, Daniel Taylor, Nicky Jones and Emma Reeve had shared 81 goals this season, and were in the mood for more.

But after Taylor had cancelled out Jack Provan's opener, it was the splendid opportunism of Dollis' 32-goal skipper Jimmy Simpson that provided the highspot of a tremendous team performance.

The visitors made a superb start when Provan slotted in a fine cross from lively right-winger Richard Coker after only four minutes.

But Whybridge roared back, with Reeve, who plays for Arsenal Ladies U12s, showing the boys a trick or two with an outstanding display on the right wing.

Taylor proved troublesome on the opposite flank and equalised after 16 minutes, taking advantage of a poor clearance.

Surviving sustained pressure, Dollis again drew first blood in the second half with a clinical finish by Simpson from Coker's long free-kick after five minutes. Simpson twice went close to extending the lead, and Darryn Davis showed his skills on the left wing.

As Whybridge went in search of the equaliser, Dollis had their backs to the wall.

But Daniel Hyde spearheaded their dogged resistance, ably supported by Carl Martin, and they held on to the delight of joint managers Matthew Heasman and Daniel Gross, and their four coachloads of supporters.

The celebrations banished memories of the Mill Hill school's defeat in the final three years ago.

They are still in with a chance of completing a cup treble, by winning the Martin and Dick Bailey competitions.

DOLLIS SCHOOL: LouiS Hassan, Daniel Hyde, Carl Martin, Antony Neocleous, Mohammed Hassan, Chika Kalu (Jake Johnson 65min), Callum Martin, Richard Coker, Jack Provan, Jimmy Simpson, Darryn Davis. Subs: Kane Ward, Chudy Uzoho, Laura Cox, Philip Cobb.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.