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the pitch.
    The two contrasting styles of play were making for a very interesting tactical game, a real case of irresistible force meeting immovable object. Charlton were attacking all-out right from the whistle, but there seemed to be no way through the Banks back line.
    â€œGo on, Sam!” Roddy shouted, as their coach carved out a shooting opportunity for herself. The shot blazed just over the bar, and the whole first-year team groaned. For a few minutes they were united.
    Half-time approached, and still Charlton couldn’t break Banks down. As the clock ticked, there was a noticeable change in Banks’ style, and they began to look for their own chances. Charlton were so focussed on attacking, they didn’t spot it; but Marek had.
    â€œThey need to watch out,” he said to nobody in particular.
    â€œYou’re right,” replied Jimmy, not taking his eyes off the action. “Banks are just waiting for the right moment to counterattack.”
    Almost as the words left Jimmy’s mouth, Charlton won yet another corner. All of their players, apart from one defender and the keeper, went up for it and, as it was cleared by the Banks defence, Sam realised too late the trouble they were in. There were four Banks players rushing towards the depleted Charlton defence, and their keeper didn’t have a chance. 1–0 to Banks, and the bad mood in the first-year team looked like returning.
    Charlton were still giving it everything they’d got, and were attacking even more desperately than before. Banks seemedcontent with their one-goal winning margin, which almost guaranteed them the title. The junior team cheered them on as much as they could, but all the attacking flair Charlton could muster couldn’t get past Banks’ determined defence now that they had the cup within their sights. The final whistle came all too soon with the score still 1–0, and if anything the mood surrounding the first-year team got even worse. Sam’s team’s chance of winning the cup had all but vanished and, as things stood, Roddy could see the same happening to their team. He didn’t feel like being on his own, so he made his way over to Marek, who was deep in discussion with Jimmy.
    â€œHere he is,” said Jimmy to Marek. “We want a word with you, Roddy.”
    â€œReally? What about?”
    â€œWell,” said Marek, looking a bituncomfortable. “It’s about you and Geno.”
    â€œWhat about us?” demanded Roddy. “It’s none of your business.”
    â€œCome on, Roddy,” said Jimmy. “Of course it is. For a start we all share a room, and at the moment the atmosphere is awful.”
    â€œBut it’s more important than that,” said Marek. “You’re not helping the team, either.”
    Roddy felt deflated. It was true. He was worried about the team, but his falling out with Geno certainly hadn’t helped improve things. He looked at his roommates and sighed. “You’re right,” he admitted. “I ought to do something about it.”
    â€œI think Geno would like to as well,” said Jimmy. “He’s just over there.”
    Roddy followed Jimmy’s gaze. “Yeah. So he is.” He jogged over towards Geno. “Can I have a word?”
    Geno looked both pleased and wary at Roddy’s approach. “I’ve been wanting to speak to you, too,” he admitted.
    â€œYeah?” said Roddy.
    Geno looked anxious. “Look,” he said. “I’m sorry we’ve fallen out. I… I want us to be friends again.” He looked at Roddy encouragingly, but was unable to keep a wistful look out of his eyes.
    Roddy sighed. He’d missed being with his best friend, too, but he wasn’t about to totally let him off the hook. “I thought you’d back me up about Keira being a pain,” he said. “And you didn’t. Not really. I got the feeling you would have complained about