Championship consequences: RAF and Navy footballers prepare for under-23s title battle
The final match of the 2024 Inter Services under-23s football championship will see a title shootout between the Royal Navy and the RAF in Portsmouth.
The Army are out of contention after a 2-0 loss to the RAF in match one and a 1-1 draw with the Navy in Aldershot last week.
So how can either the RAF or the Navy win the title?
The Royal Navy win if...
For Stu Morgan's Royal Navy team, it's a chance at three successive Inter Services trophies at under-23s level.
However, they're going to have to do it the hard way in Portsmouth by beating the RAF.
Last year's clash between the two teams ended in a 0-0 draw but that result would not be enough for the Navy this year.
The Royal Air Force win if...
It's a simpler situation for Danny Bartley's RAF team in what is expected to be his final match in charge of the team.
If the RAF avoid defeat in Portsmouth, they will be crowned the champions for 2024.
The Air Force had a torrid time in the 2022 and 2023 tournaments, but after beating the Army two weeks ago, they could be set for a surprising title triumph with either a win or a draw against the Navy.
The Navy's academy players can sense what would be a third successive Inter Services under-23s title, after wins in the past two seasons, but they'll have to beat the RAF following their 1-1 draw last week in Aldershot, when the Army snatched a goal in the last moments of stoppage time.
The Air Force only need to draw the game to win their first title for several years after they beat the Army two weeks ago at Rayners Lane.
For coach Danny Bartley it would be a fitting end to his time leading the RAF team, while his Navy counterpart Stu Morgan is looking on this, his first season in charge, as the start of a new era for Navy football.
As well as the Inter Services title, there's also the Richard Wilkinson trophy to play for tonight, in memory of the distinguished former Navy player and coach who died two years ago.
– Jon Knighton, head of BFBS Sport and match commentator for the title-deciding clash.
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