A SCHOOL near Selby have earned themselves a place in the quarter-finals of the English Schools FA Under-14 Small Schools’ Trophy.

Barlby High School’s Year 9 boys won 4-1 at Leicestershire side Martin High to book their place in the last eight, with an away fixture at either Cumbria’s Lakes School or holders Bury Grammar School awaiting them.

Charlie Dutton, the school’s top scorer in the competition with seven goals, bagged a brace in the win, although his team-mates have not been shy in front of goal – the side have scored four times on three occasions, and put eight past Lincolnshire side King Edward VI Grammar School in the third round.

Captain Alfie Bugg has also contributed a couple of goals to the team’s successful drive, which has left coach Nick Dale hailing a superb side.

He said: “It’s the best side I’ve had in 20 years of teaching. We’ve had a successful season so far, and if we play as well as we can, it’ll have to be a really good team to beat us.

“We were only one up against Martin High at half-time, but we made a few substitutions and won 4-1, which shows our strength in depth and that we have ‘finishers’ on the bench.”

The team are also through to the quarter-finals of the North Yorkshire County Schools FA Cup, a competition they won last year, alongside the York & District Schools FA Selby League. As U12s in Year 7, they won that same competition, and the YDSFA League Cup.