Late drama as British Army beat RAF to take under-23s Inter Services title on goal difference

The British Army have won the under-23s Inter Services title on goal difference after a late Femi Takyi goal sealed a 3-1 win over the RAF at the SB Stadium.

The Army knew they would have to win by two goals or more to be champions and led at half-time through Tyler Stevens' good finish.

The second half was all about the Army attack and Buster Reed's thumping long-range drive looked to have delivered the result needed to give Keith Emmerson's team a title triumph in his first Inter Services, but Dean Higham struck late for the RAF to make it 2-1.

It was Tayki who would be the Army's hero with a well-taken goal in the 88th minute.

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The game had an even start with both sides testing the goalkeeper in the first twenty minutes. Stevens hit a strike from thirty yards that RAF shot-stopper Miles Coaley tipped around the post while moments later, the RAF's Tom O'Hanlon's hopes of two goals in as many games were denied by Charlie Pocklington.

It was Stevens who grabbed his second goal of the tournament to open the scoring with a tidy finish after good work on the wing from Takyi.

The RAF went close to an equaliser when George Bishop fired over and an injury blow hit the Air Force when their captain Blake Ledger was forced off at the end of the first half.

The second half saw the Army hunt for the two-goal lead they needed and it was a piece of magic from Reed that provided it. He picked the ball up from 30 yards and rocketed a shot past Coaley, sparking wild Army celebration.

However, the drama wasn't finished as the RAF still had some fight in them. Dean Higham, who scored against the Army in the 2024 tournament, netted again from the edge of the box to reduce the deficit to 2-1 with just eight minutes to go.

Could the Army still find the title-winning goal though?

Substitute Lewis Coker wasted a great opportunity from a corner as he headed it over but it was Takyi that would have the final say in Sandhurst.

His doggedness saw him come out of a couple tackles with the ball and he drove his shot across Coaley and in via a deflection off the far post.

It was the goal the Army needed as they were crowned Inter Services champions at full-time.