Cheeks puffed and ready for serious business. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0808738)

FESTIVAL first-timers Fulham may have walked away with the BWCI Shield, but everyone was a winner at this year’s BWCI Guernsey Mini Soccer Festival held at Foote’s Lane.

Some of the youngsters from local clubs have results over professional clubs to boast of – Rovers beat Everton 1-0, Vale Rec earned a draw with the mighty Glasgow Rangers and Sylvans likewise with Fulham.

Rangers’ only goal of the weekend came against Everton.

Typically, the four pro clubs invited to the tournament – regulars Rangers and Everton supported this year by Portsmouth and Fulham – dominated proceedings, even though they played under-nine teams with the other clubs having players a year older.

But Vale pushed Portsmouth out of second place in their league and Jersey’s St Clement came agonisingly close to dumping reigning champions Everton out in the quarter-finals, losing in a complicated penalty shoot-out.

The superbly organised event, was widely praised by parents, coaches and players and enjoyed by as many as 400 people at the Garenne Stand after an opening rain-sodden first afternoon.

Guernsey’s most successful side were Sylvans, who drew Vale Rec in the quarter-finals and beat them 1-0 before losing 3-2 on penalties to Everton in the semi.