On Friday evening, Bracknell Town FC’s Under-16s were crowned Berks & Bucks County Champions, marking a fantastic achievement for a talented group of young players from the area.
The final, staged at Flackwell Heath Football Club, saw Bracknell Town face Aylesbury Vale FC in a fiercely competitive and hard-fought contest.
Bracknell started brightly, coming close to an early lead as Axel Ferrari’s looping header struck the crossbar. That near miss seemed to ignite Aylesbury, who grew into the game and created promising chances of their own, only to be repeatedly denied by Bracknell’s resolute and disciplined defensive line.
With little to separate the two teams throughout the match, the game remained on a knife edge, with both sides pushing hard to capitalise on their attacking moments.
After 90 tense minutes, the final was decided by a dramatic penalty shootout. With the score level at 3-3 after five penalties apiece, the game moved into sudden death.
Under pressure, Noah Breakell stepped forward for Bracknell and coolly converted his spot-kick to make it 5-5. When Aylesbury missed their next penalty, Harry Way, Bracknell’s central midfielder, showed composure beyond his years to fire home the winner, sealing a thrilling 6-5 victory.
Jorge Riberio, from Ascot, was outstanding in goal—making two crucial saves during the shootout—and was deservedly named Player of the Match.
The successful penalty takers were: Axel Ferrari, Noah Breakell, Ollie Newall, Fletcher Knight, and Harry Way.
