DAME Alice Owen s Under-14s are in the final of the National Cup after beating Downend Technology College 1-0 in the last four yesterday. The Potters Bar school rocketed to victory against the Bristol side courtesy of a strike by John Wong at Mangotsfield

DAME Alice Owen's Under-14s are in the final of the National Cup after beating Downend Technology College 1-0 in the last four yesterday.

The Potters Bar school rocketed to victory against the Bristol side courtesy of a strike by John Wong at Mangotsfield United's Cossham Street ground.

This is the first time that a team from Owen's has reached an English Schools' FA national final.

Defender Jack McCreight couldn't play in the semi-final clash after suffering a punctured liver following a fall from a garage roof.

Coach Adam Cotton felt his injury spurred the players on to win the game for their right-back.

He said: "That was an added incentive for us. He's on the mend now, but we really wanted to win it for him."

Cotton was delighted with the victory. The Potters Bar school played in front of a bumper crowd of more than 600 in Bristol after taking three coaches of their supporters to the match.

Cotton said: "It was absolutely fantastic, a really great all-round performance. We played very well and absolutely dominated the game.

"It was incredible. They didn't have a shot all game. We could have been two or three up."

He added: "It's the first time a team from the school has reached a national final and I'm really proud of them."

Wong scored the only goal of the game after 15 minutes when he beat a defender and rifled home a cross-shot.

Owen's had a number of chances to extend their lead, with Darragh Vieyra, Chas White and Will Casey all going close.

Despite seven minutes of stoppage-time at the end of the game, Cotton's boys comfortably sealed the win to book their place in the final on Monday (April 30).

Paco Craig was named man of the match.

The Potters Bar school will face St Francis Xavier School, Liverpool, in the ESFA Year 9 National Cup Final and more than eight coaches of pupils will be cheering them on at Cheltenham Town FC.