KES footballers through to last 32

Year 9 footballers from KES Academy continued their Esfa National Cup run with a hard-fought victory against Bourne Grammar.The win sets up a last-32 match at home against Christ the King School (Nottingham).Team coach Ben Skipper said: “Today wasn’t pretty in those conditions it was a war of attrition. The team showed character and determination to get the result.“To be in the last 32 of a National competition is a massive achievement for the academy and we are proud of every single player.”Following a bye in round one success against Wymondham, Springwood and Boston brought the Lincolnshire county champions to Kes on a very wet day.It was Bourne who acclimatised better to conditions starting brightly.They took the lead in the sixth minute after good work down the right channel presented a chance for the number 10 to slot home from close range. This sprung KES into action leading to a couple of half chances. The game ebbed and flowed with both sides struggling with the sticky pitch conditions and driving rain.With the game heading towards half-time, KES scored from a free-kick on the left which was excellently converted by Kai Chiakli into the top corner.KES were then on the front foot with Issac Johnson driving from midfield to finish low to the goalkeeper’s left, giving KES a 2-1 lead at the interval. Conditions continued to affect the game with both teams struggling to gain any rhythm.Five minutes from the end, a mistake from the Bourne goalkeeper set up Riley Hunt to breeze past the defence and slot in a crucial third for Kes.To Bourne’s credit, they continued to press forward and were awarded a late penalty for a trip in the box to bring the game to 3-2.