Eight primary schools took part in another successful running of the Hatfield & District Primary Schools’ Football Tournament.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Philip Howard celebrate. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Philip Howard celebrate. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Birchwood Avenue, Countess Anne, De Havilland, Hatfield Community Free School, Green Lanes, The Ryde, St Philip Howard and St Mary’s met at De Havilland School on Travellers Lane for the annual curtain raiser to the season.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Winners St Philip Howard celebrate. Picture: KEVIN LINESWinners St Philip Howard celebrate. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

The eight teams were split into two groups of four and played each other in a round-robin league with the top two progressing to the semi-finals.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Philip Howard celebrate at the final whistle. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Philip Howard celebrate at the final whistle. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

This stage produced some very exciting and close matches, with the quality of play rising as the morning progressed.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Philip Howard celebrate after the final. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Philip Howard celebrate after the final. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

The final four saw St Philip Howard overcame St Mary’s but Green Lanes and De Havilland could not be separated in normal or extra time, their game finishing 1-1.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Philip Howard celebrate at the final whistle. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Philip Howard celebrate at the final whistle. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

It meant the dreaded penalty shoot-out which De Havilland just managed to squeeze through.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: De Havilland vs St Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINESDe Havilland vs St Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

The final was very tense with great commitment from both sides.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Philip Howard players celebrate what turned out to be the winning goal in the final. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Philip Howard players celebrate what turned out to be the winning goal in the final. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Both teams poured their energy into the contest but in the end it was a single long-range effort that settled the game in favour of St Philip Howard.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Philip Howard vs De Havilland. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Philip Howard vs De Havilland. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Event organisers thanked the referees, players, staff and families of all schools who took part and made the tournament a great success as well as the De Havilland staff members who helped to stage the event.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: De Havilland. Picture: KEVIN LINESDe Havilland. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

For more pictures see www.whtimes.co.uk/sport

Welwyn Hatfield Times: De Havilland vs St Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINESDe Havilland vs St Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Green Lanes. Picture: KEVIN LINESGreen Lanes. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Mary's. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Mary's. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Mary's vs St Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Mary's vs St Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Green Lanes equalise against De Havilland. Picture: KEVIN LINESGreen Lanes equalise against De Havilland. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: St Mary's vs St Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINESSt Mary's vs St Philip Howard. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: De Havilland celebrate a goal against Green Lanes. Picture: KEVIN LINESDe Havilland celebrate a goal against Green Lanes. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: De Havilland vs Green Lanes. Picture: KEVIN LINESDe Havilland vs Green Lanes. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Green Lanes take on De Havilland. Picture: KEVIN LINESGreen Lanes take on De Havilland. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: De Havilland vs Green Lanes. Picture: KEVIN LINESDe Havilland vs Green Lanes. Picture: KEVIN LINES (Image: Archant)