CHESTER Allstars produced the performance of their young lives to reach the final of the English Schools’ FA Inter-Association Under 11s Cup.

The Allstars – featuring the best Year 5 and Year 6 primary school players from the Chester & District area – will go to head-to-head with seven other teams from across the country in London in May after their thrilling display in Saturday’s North of England final.

Despite being the youngest side in action at Sunderland’s multi-million pound Academy of Light training base, the mini marvels showed why the future of Chester football is bright by sealing one of the two qualification spots.

Having made it through to the Sunderland event as Cheshire champions, a day the Allstars will never forget began with a 1-0 victory over Scarborough given to them by captain Brandon Burrows.

A 2-1 win over South Tyneside followed thanks to a Rocco Hewitt brace and a series of stunning Edward Weston saves.

The Allstars then went down 1-0 to Blackburn, but they bounced back to draw 0-0 with defending champions Liverpool in a high-quality contest in which Kyle John, Tom Wyatt, Ryan Horuz and Ben Clark impressed.

With Kyle and skipper Brandon in fine form, the Allstars then booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-0 triumph over Carlisle. Tom broke the deadlock before Harley Bennion completing the scoring.

Harley then got the only goal of the game in a last-four clash against previously-unbeaten Sheffield.

Old foes Liverpool awaited in the final, but it proved a match too far for the Allstars as they fell to a 3-0 defeat.

They had no reason to be disheartened, though, as their efforts ensured that they, along with Liverpool, will compete in the national final on May 21.

Allstars manager Chris Timms, a teacher at Mill View Primary School, said: “The boys played with intelligence, style and passion and their slick passing style was the finest on show.”