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The bell rang at four o'clock and all the children in Donna's class at Chapel High School poured out into the corridor and joined the masses rushing out of school because it was Friday and the weekend was here!

Donna picked up her bag and went down to the gym. Tonight was football practice night and tomorrow there was a big match – the semi-final of the Inter-schools competition. Donna got changed and went out to the football pitch. A crowd of boys was hanging around the field, waiting for Mr Jones the sports teacher to arrive.

They kicked the ball around and practised shots on goal. They had a really good goalie called Warren. He looked like a stick insect with red hair and freckles, but he was brilliant at stopping goals.

Barry Woodhead was the centre forward. He was wicked at scoring penalties. Donna thought he must have studied videos of Michael Owen. If only Barry wasn’t so big-headed. Of course he was bigger and stronger and faster than everyone else but that didn't give him a reason to make fun of everyone else. Donna really hated him.

‘Goal..!’
Barry Woodhead sent another penalty shot into the back of the net. Donna didn't like him but she had to admit he was a good player.
Just then, a tall, heavy man in sports kit strode across the field. He came over to the football pitch and called to everyone.
'Mr Jones is sick,' he said. 'I'm Mr Stanley. From now on, I'm in charge of the team.'

Everybody looked unhappy. They knew Mr Jones was a good teacher and he was always fair. They had never seen Mr Stanley before.
'Right,' said Mr Stanley. 'Line up and we'll see what you can do!'

The team made a line ready to practise their shots on goal. Donna stood behind Stevie Hamilton and waited for her turn. Then she heard Mr Stanley shouting and waving his arms. His face was bright red and he sounded really angry.
'Oi, you!' he shouted at Donna.
'Clear off! We don't want any girls hanging around here getting in the way!'

Donna stared at Mr Stanley.
Stevie Hamilton said, 'But, Sir… Donna is on the team. She's brilliant!'
'NO GIRLS ON MY TEAM!!' shouted Mr Stanley even louder.
'But that's not fair!'
'NO BUTS!' His face seemed about to explode.

Donna stood at the side of the field and watched her team during training. Barry Woodhead smirked and smiled. Of course he was pleased that she was thrown off the team! It started to rain and everyone got cold. By half past six it was raining so hard that they had to stop.
'Bye, see you tomorrow at the match!' they shouted as they left.

Donna walked slowly home in the rain. She felt sad and miserable. It just wasn't fair. She always played for the team. Mr Jones didn't mind. She had played in all the matches so far…how could she survive without football? It was her life.
Next day she decided to go to watch the game. It started at 3 o'clock and was against Mouldy Hall School. Donna arrived just as the whistle blew for kick-off.

Barry Woodhead kicked the ball to Jamie Watson. He ran up the right wing, keeping the ball just ahead of him. Just outside the box he crossed it and miraculously it landed on Kevin Johnson's head and went into the net.

'Gooooaaaallll!' they shouted!

Fantastic! Straight from the kick-off! There was no doubt that Chapel High would win.

Five minutes later Barry Woodhead was running up the field when the number two from Mouldy Hall's team tackled him. Crunch! He missed the ball and speared Barry Woodhead's leg with his boot. There was a free kick just outside the penalty box. The Mouldy Hall players made a wall and the referee kept telling them to get back. Dave Turnbull took the free kick and it went round the wall like a banana and into the back of the net! 'Goal'!

Half an hour later, they had another chance. Paul Bennett got the ball and dribbled down the left wing. He beat two Mouldy Hall defenders and reached the half-way line. He looked round and there was no one near him! He ran on, still dribbling the ball, sent the goalie the wrong way, and shot it into the back of the net! Hurray! Hurray for Chapel High!

The score stayed the same during the second half as everyone was tired from running around so much. The game finished 3-0 to Chapel High. Fantastic - now they were in the final!

Donna stood on the sidelines and watched. She was so happy that her team had won, but she was so miserable that she couldn't play. Mr Stanley had glared at her all the way through the match. It just wasn't fair! Why shouldn't she play football too?
The next Saturday was the day of the Big Match. It was Chapel High against Harton House School. The teams were big rivals and Harton House had won the competition last year. At ten minutes to three the football field was lined with people. It seemed like half the school were there, including teachers, parents and the Headmaster, Mr Blunderbuss with his huge moustache.

The whistle blew. Harton's number nine, Lee Mason, got the ball and sent it flying down the field. A very large, spotty boy called Scott Perkins trapped the ball and volleyed it at the net. Warren, the Chapel High goalie, made a brilliant save and it went out for a corner.

The Chapel High defence collected in the box. The whistle blew and the corner shot came sailing over. It landed on Lee Mason's head and was headed straight into the back of the net.

Oh no! One - nil down already. The Harton House spectators cheered and clapped. Donna looked on and felt her heart sinking.
Come on Chapel High!' she shouted. 'You can do it!'

Twenty-five minutes later, during an attack by Harton, Shaun Wilkins fouled Lee Mason in the box, just as he was going to shoot. Lee Mason fell to the ground groaning and moaning but everyone knew he wasn't really hurt. The referee gave a penalty. Scott Perkins took the shot and smashed it into the back of the net. Poor Warren didn't even see it! Two - nil down. Donna was starting to feel really miserable now. They just couldn't lose, could they?

Just after half time things got worse. Scott Perkins, who was so huge he should have been playing rugby, tackled Barry Woodhead… or tried to. Scott's huge boot hit Barry's leg and everyone heard a crunching sound. Barry lay on the ground and couldn't move.

Mr Stanley ran onto the pitch and looked at Barry Woodhead. 'I think his leg's broken. Where's the stretcher?' Barry Woodhead was carried off the field and Scott Perkins got a yellow card. He should have been sent off for a foul like that. Mr Stanley stood on the pitch and shouted with his red face.

'Where are the substitutes?'
All the Chapel High players looked at each other in dismay.
'Please, Sir, there aren't any,' said Kevin Johnson. 'All the other boys have gone to play in the rugby competition.'
'What!!' shouted Mr Stanley. 'No more players?'
'Well, there is one,' said Stevie Hamilton.
'Well, get them here now!'
'It's Donna. She's over there and she's dressed in her kit.'

Mr Stanley's eyebrows went blacker and his face went redder. The players could see he was struggling to say the words.
'All right then. As this is an emergency. Go and get her.'
Stevie Hamilton ran over to Donna.
'Come on!' he said. 'You're back on the team!'

In a few seconds Donna was back on the football pitch. The whistle blew. She ran up the field on the right wing to take the cross from Stevie then she passed it on to Kevin. They all ran as fast as they could up the field. The ball was running ahead. Kevin passed it back to Donna and she took the shot from outside the penalty box. It flew up into the air and over the head of Harton's goalie and into the back of the net.

Immediately the Chapel fans went mad. They started singing and cheering and clapping as loud as they could. The teachers were smiling and Mr Blunderbuss was beaming.
'That's more like it, Chapel High.'

It was 2 - 1 now and only ten minutes to go. They started again from the centre spot. Again Chapel High got the ball and started to attack. Donna ran down the field and saw Scott Perkins heading towards her. He ran into her at full speed and said 'Oops, sorry!' as he chopped Donna's legs from under her. The referee didn't see a thing.
'I'll get you for that!' thought Donna.

The ball went out for a throw-in. Stevie Hamilton threw it in to Kevin Johnson who beat three players and took a shot. It hit the post, bounced back into the penalty area and as the Harton defence scrambled to clear it Donna put out her toe and put the ball into the net. Hurray! Hurray! Now they were equal. 2 all. And only five minutes to go…
The crowd was making more noise than ever. The Chapel High fans were singing and the Harton House fans were shouting encouragement to their players.

Both teams suddenly found extra energy. The ball flew from one end of the field to the other. There was attack and then counter-attack. Donna felt as if her legs would drop off.

It was the last minute. Donna got the ball from Stevie Hamilton. Again she faced that big lump Scott Perkins. Donna sent him the wrong way and he was too slow to catch her. She was in the box. There was only the Harton goalie now. She went to strike the shot, but no, she changed her mind and took it with her left foot. The Harton goalie dived the wrong way and Donna smashed the ball into the top left-hand corner.

That was it! A hat trick. Thirty seconds later the final whistle blew. They had won! They had won the cup and were winners of the Inter-schools championship!
The Chapel House fans were smiling and shouting. Mr Blunderbuss was jumping up and down. The Harton House fans couldn't believe it. Scott Perkins had collapsed onto the ground in a heap.
'Hurray for Donna!' they shouted. Donna just grinned. She had never felt so happy.

The medals were presented and hung around the players' necks on ribbons. Then Kevin Johnson, as Captain, was presented with the Inter-Schools cup. It was a large, silver trophy with hands holding a football, just like a small World Cup trophy. He raised it into the air. Everyone cheered and took photographs.

Mr Stanley's face went redder and redder. His face had lost its black look and even he was smiling.
'Oh, Donna,' he said, 'don't forget - football training on Friday night with the team!'
Donna just smiled and Stevie Hamilton winked at her.

The End