Dulwich Hamlet / ASPIRE Academy Under 18s Kent Youth League Champions again

On a day when only victory would be enough, the Under 18's came out on top in a 10 goal thrillfest retaining the North Division in astonishing fashion

Though a draw away to Welling United would have been enough to ensure a title play-off for the Kent Youth League North Division with championship rivals Bromley, a win was the Dulwich Hamlet youngsters target to ensure that the silverware would their's and their's alone.

The first half was fast and furious, defences under constant assault as the goals flew in left, right and centre - and sideways, and slantways, and longways, and backways.... When the half time whistle blew for all involved it must have come as welcome relief from the hectic action, Dulwich Hamlet and Welling had shared EIGHT goals in an incredible 45 minutes.

Still the winner was needed but the first half hour of the second half brought no further goals and the Dulwich youngsters found themselves facing the prospect of a do-or-die play with Bromley who'd inflicted one of the Hamlet two defeats in Kent Youth League games. But late on Dulwich Hamlet, fired up as their opponents flagged, found the goals that they needed and twice more they found the net as that all-important win ensured they had taken the Kent Youth League North Division once more, once more winning it at the death.

The goals came from Ade Batula scoring twice whilst Klajdi Cani, Kiki Oshilaja, Cristian Bucin and Osman Proni also found the back of the net.

Though this brings the curtain down on the league games for the Aspire Academy youngsters, they still have the national playoffs of the Football Conference Youth Alliance to look forward to. Once the dates and fixtures for these are announced, we'll let fans know.