QUEEN Elizabeth School’s under-14 boys team made it through to the quarter-finals of a national competition in which nearly 1,000 schools entered.

The team were eventually knocked out in a thriller by Croydon’s Trinity School.

Although QE had the better of the play they could not come back from going two goals down behind midway through the first half.

A James Storey free-kick halved the deficit but stout defending from the opposition enabled them to hold on to a 2-1 victory.

The English Schools Football Association Boys Under-14 Playstation Cup is a national competition with many players linked to top professional clubs.

It was the Wimborne school team’s first defeat of the season.

Teacher Shane Green said: “I am so proud of the team and their achievements.

“They have been excellent throughout the competition and we’ve used the same squad of 16 players.

“There is a real togetherness in the team and we were disappointed after the match because the teams we played in the two previous rounds were arguably better than the one we lost to.

“But Trinity School defended very well and their keeper made some excellent saves. So credit to them."

QE has a strong football pedigree with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and England centre-half Ben White both being former students.

As was Faustino Anjorin who is at Chelsea and is now on loan at Huddersfield Town for the 2022-23 season.

Liz West, chief executive officer of Initio – formerly Wimborne Academy Trust - said: “We’re all proud of the team and I know they were unlucky to lose.

“Sport is an important part of our trust and success like this helps inspire all our students.”