If Vegas had been offering odds on the U15 Beds County Cup final, most would have had Real Bedford as comfortable favourites. Midtable in the highly competitive EJA league, they were expected to win by four or five goals against an inconsistent Linslade Galaxy Lazio side currently sitting second in the Chiltern Division 1. Real's squad was packed with MKDDL Division 1 players, supplemented by several from the JPL and a few who had spent time in pro academies. Lazio, by contrast, are built around Spartak and Sporting lads who simply want to play twice a week with their mates. With the matchday squad capped at 16, it was a testament to the team's spirit that the three boys who missed out still turned up to cheer the team on.

Real also arrived with a large, noisy travelling support — flags, drum, air horns, the lot.

Once the game kicked off, though, it was Lazio who started far better. Their high, aggressive press caught Real cold, and several half-chances came early, including a decent efforts from range from captain fantastic Blake and the always-dangerous Theo.

Even after the frantic opening settled, Lazio continued to dominate. The back four of Charlie BV, Chris, Tycho and Cyril — shielded superbly not only by CDM Lucas but also by the tireless tracking back of wingers Harry and Sher (later Oscar and Joe) — comfortably contained Real's much praised forward line.

Lazio created the better chances too. Harry dragged a shot wide at the near post, and Josh Green did the same on the opposite flank — but not before silencing the Real fans by blitzing past their centrebacks with a burst of pace that unsettled them for the rest of the match.

Their best chance came from a corner. After the ball was recycled, it fell to Charlie B, whose shot was blocked on the line. Real responded just before halftime with a couple of efforts, both well saved by Thomas — a reminder that there was still work to be done. Goalless at the break.

The key moment arrived early in the second half. After some scrappy play in the Lazio box, Chris challenged the Real winger and immediately stayed down. It was clear something was wrong. It later emerged he had suffered a double fracture of the tibia and fibula. The match was delayed for 20 minutes while he was stretchered into the dressing room.

Unsurprisingly, it took Lazio a while to rediscover their rhythm, but once they settled again they continued to create the clearer chances. Joe rattled the bar with his "weaker" right foot, and Charlie B saw a delicate lob over the keeper cleared off the line.

As the game wore on, Real began to gain a slight foothold. Thomas' typically aggressive starting position was crucial in snuffing out several dangerous situations, and he tipped a threatening inswinging corner away from under his bar. But with Abdul slotting in after Chris' injury and Tycho soldiering on after a painful knock, Lazio continued to hold firm.

There was one final twist. As the referee blew for full time, the ambulance arrived to take Chris to hospital, causing a further 30minute delay before the penalty shootout. This allowed Real's ultras to gather behind the goal — but also revealed that they had been so confident of winning that they hadn't planned for penalties at all.

After five penalties each, both sides had seen one saved, with Blake, Charlie BV, Sher and Josh Green scoring for Lazio but unfortunately, Oscar's well-struck pen was kept out by the Real keeper. Sudden death began with Thomas smashing his penalty into the top corner after a hop, skip and jump in his runup. Real scored their next, and then Tycho calmly sent the keeper the wrong way to pile pressure onto Real's final taker — their goalkeeper. He stepped up, Thomas guessed right, pushed it away, and Lazio had won. Pandemonium followed as the team mobbed their keeper, and even Chris was able to join the celebrations via video call.

Every Lazio player delivered at least a 9/10 performance, with half a dozen worthy of the full 10/10. It was an unbelievable end to a wonderful season — a season in which the team rose from bottom of Division 1 last year to second (possibly third) this year. There have been some excellent performances along the way — the quarterfinal win at Ampthill, the 8–0 demolition of LPR Legends, and the 2–2 draw with LPR All Stars among them — but it was fitting that the lads saved their best for the biggest stage.

With GCSEs looming and the EJA turning a few heads, this may prove to be Lazio's final game together — but if so, they couldn't have chosen a better way to sign off.

A final word for the young referee, who handled an extraordinary match with a calm authority that many older officials would have struggled to match.