WRITTLE Minors Girls Under-10s travelled to the National Futsal Arena in Birmingham last weekend for the National Futsal Finals hosted by the FA.

Having qualified by winning the Essex Finals in May they progressed to the East England finals where they topped the group to claim their spot in Birmingham.

Writtle, managed by Steve Keys, are already league and cup double winners but with the title of Champions of England at stake it was a strong squad which travelled to Birmingham, consisting of Iona Singleton, Phoebe Keys, Rosie Richards, Cara Pringle, Rachel Harle, Emily Field, Grace Sharp, Sinead Murphy, Mia Nicholls and Ellie Riches.

The format for the day was two leagues of five teams with the winners of each league playing the second place team in the opposite league in the semi-finals and then the final.

Writtle got their tournament under way against FC Aztec and goals from Harle, Pringle and Murphy sealed the first win 5-2.

Next were Lads Club U10s girls, which Writtle won 1-0.

Writtle’s third game was against Willow Primary, a team that grew up together and have won everything they enter in their area. This was a tough battle and seemed destined to end 0-0, but with one last attack, Harle crossed from a corner and up popped Field to fire in from close range.

The final group game was against Real Weymouth, and goals from Murphy and Harle helped secure a 2-1 win, topping their group.

The semi-final was against Tottenham Hotspur Ladies U10s.

Writtle kicked off and immediately attacked but the Tottenham goalkeeper was in fine form making save after save.

Eventually the pressure paid off when the ball found Field who passed to Harle to give Writtle a 1-0 lead.

Tottenham equalised with two minutes left on the clock, but Pringle scored a late winner to set up a final against St Anne’s Rovers Community FC, from Liverpool.

It was end to end and with only 120 seconds left Harle managed to lose her marker and slot home from close range.

The clock ran down and with no more goals, Writtle Minors were crowned the champions of a competition which had started with 2,000 teams, so an impressive feat.