Thomas A'Becket are celebrating outright victory in the Worthing schools' year five six-a-side football tournament.

The 800-pupil middle school won the trophy last year but had to share it with West Park because the teams could not be separated after extra-time.

This time, Thomas A'Becket beat West Park 1-0 in the final, thanks to Curtis Milner's goal and got the trophy all to themselves.

It was an impressive achievement for a team only playing together for the second time this season.

Dave Hodgson, the deputy headmaster, was thrilled to beat off competition from 14 others schools.

He said: "We have quite a good record over the years. We have been quite fortunate.

"It was a superb tournament, well organised with good quality football. To win was a superb feat."

Thomas A'Becket only lost one game and conceded one goal all morning, to Downsbrook, in the competition at Durrington Middle School.

Hodgson said: "The boys played really well as a team. We had a squad of seven and Jack Murray, Curtis Milner, Fraser Oliphant-Hope, captain Iain Haggart, Steven Burt, Daniel Blunn and Oliver Kershaw all contributed to our success."

Thomas A'Becket were one of eight teams to progress from three groups of five teams. The top two in each group qualified for the knockout stages and the two remaining teams with the best goal difference made up the quarter-finalists.

Hosts Durrington Middle made the last eight but lost 1-0 to West Park who then disposed of Chesswood 7-6 on penalties in the semis to set-up a clash with Thomas A'Becket in the final.

Thomas A'Becket beat Manor Hall in their semi to reach the final for the second successive year.

Organiser Paul Turner, who teaches at Durrington Middle School, said the tournament ran smoothly and over 400 people turned out to watch and play.

He said: "The event has been going for about 15 years and it keeps getting bigger and better. The children behaved well and there was some really exciting football.

"The match that ended 7-6 on penalties to West Park was nail-biting stuff. Everyone was glued to that.

"The atmosphere was fantastic, as always, because the pupils are so good to each other.

"We had three pitches with nine-minute group matches and the knockout stages were six-minute games.

"If the score was level after five minutes it was sudden death in the last minute and it went to penalties after that.

"There was a convenient bank for the spectators to watch the action from and, although it rained at the start, the weather soon cleared up.

"The teams were evenly matched and the winner could have come from any team in the quarter-finals."

Durrington Middle headmaster Robert Pavard presented Thomas A'Becket with individual trophies after the final as well as a Cup which the school will hold for the year.

Manor Hall enjoyed the day despite losing in the semis, according to head of PE Gary Mitten, who coaches the boys.

The Southwick-based team were one of the smaller schools in the tournament with 420 pupils and Mitten said it was an achievement for his side to get to within one game of the final.

He said: "To get as far as we did was really good and the boys weren't disappointed to go out in the semi finals because they knew they had done well.

"It is always nice to compete against the big schools like Thomas A'Becket and West Park. I like talking to the other managers and I always stress we are the underdogs.

"We have a football club after school on a Friday and everybody can play regardless of their ability. The emphasis at Manor Hall is on enjoyment and playing good football.

"Some of the other teams just boot the ball in the air but I encourage my players to pass it on the floor. My only concession is putting the big lads at the back but winning is not the be and end all."