Hot-Shot Harry (7 page)

Ashfield realised the danger too late. Before anyone could try to block the shot, the ball was bouncing back out of the net.

“I've scored!” Brad screamed in disbelief. “Incredible!”

“Take over from me,” Harry told Ravi at half-time. “I want to get back out onto the pitch.”

Ravi was about to argue when Mrs Phillips saw Harry taking off the green top.

“Just a minute, Harry,” she said. “What are you doing?”

“Er … letting Ravi go in goal.”

“Did I say anything about that?” she asked.

“Well, no, but …”

“So put it back on, please, Harry,” she told him. “I don't want to make any changes yet. We've just drawn level and you're doing fine in goal.”

“But …” Harry began.

“No
buts
, Harry, please. Just do as I say.”

Harry was cross but he didn't argue. He had a sulky look as he tugged the sweatshirt back on.

“Well done, everyone,” said Mrs Phillips, ignoring the captain's sighs. “We're back in this game now!”

Gateway started the second half with a goal.

Leela struck the ball perfectly with her left foot, curling it into the top corner to give Gateway a 2–1 lead.

“Magic!” cried Charlotte from the side.

Ashfield went on the attack, but good defending by Brad and Ravi, plus two more saves from Harry, stopped them from scoring.

It looked like Gateway were winning – until they gave away the lead. Every single Gateway player was at fault, ending up with a howler by Harry.

Oliver gave the ball away too easily. Leela's tackle was weak, Ravi fell over, and the ball rolled through Brad's legs into the path of Ashfield's top scorer.

The striker's shot was tame and Harry did not bother to save it with his hands. He used his feet, planning to kick the ball up to Oliver.

So when the ball bobbled over his foot, Harry had no chance. He swiped at thin air and the ball rolled slowly into the net behind him.

The laughter around the arena did not make Harry feel any better. He crouched down, head in hands, unable to look anybody in the eye.

Mrs Phillips took pity on the captain and decided to give him a chance to make up for his mistake.

“Go in goal now, Ravi,” she called out. “Let Harry play up front for the last few minutes.”

Harry ripped off the green top and ran across to the team base for his red shirt. Charlotte tossed it to him, making no comment about the mistake. She knew exactly how it felt to let in a soft goal.

“Go and grab the winner,” she said.

Harry very nearly did so. In Gateway's next attack, the ball dropped at his feet, but he scooped his hurried shot over the low crossbar.

There was still enough time for either school to snatch a victory with a late goal, and Ashfield nearly did. Their striker had a good chance to pass the ball to a team-mate, but he wanted a hat-trick, so he tried to score instead.

Ravi managed to get both hands to the ball and cling on to it.

“Rave-save!” Harry cried. “Better than I could have done.”

When the referee blew for full-time, with the scores tied at 2–2, the Gateway players braced themselves for penalties again. But instead the referee said they would go into extra time.

“Two minutes each way,” the referee called, “but if one team scores, that's the end of the game. It's the Golden Goal rule.”

Harry liked the sound of that. “
Golden Goal
!” he cried. “That's what it's all about today. Every goal has been worth its weight in gold!”

Midway through the first period, Leela passed to Harry. He saw a chance to score.

He would be the hero if he got the winning goal! Harry drew his right foot back to shoot – but it was a tricky angle. He thought of the Ashfield striker's greedy miss.

So, Harry didn't try to score himself. Instead, he passed the ball to Oliver, who was in a better position.

Oliver hit the ball low and hard, and it skimmed into the back of the net.

“Hot-shot!” screamed Harry. “We've won!”

Oliver and Brad grabbed one of Harry's legs each, and he was given a bumpy ride around the pitch on Ravi's shoulders. Leela and Charlotte leapt around them like playful puppies.

“We got thirteen goals!” cried Leela.

“Lucky thirteen!” laughed Charlotte.

After Harry had lifted the County Cup to cheers, clapping and cameras, Mrs Phillips had some good news.

“The school will double the sponsor money,” she told them, “so Saint Francis will receive over a thousand pounds. That will buy them a lot of footballs!”

The youngsters whooped their delight and then ran off with the trophy and their medals to do another lap of honour.

“Talk about Golden Goals!” laughed Harry.