A ROSS Kendall strike 12 minutes from time saw Arrow Vale crowned English Schools FA champions at the Valley on Monday night.

Roared on by a crowd estimated at more than 500, the Redditch side overcame the odds to inflict a 2-1 defeat on a Kingshurst College side who had not lost for three years.

Birmingham City academy member Peter Till set Arrow Vale, the county's first representatives in the final, on their way with a screamer from the edge of the box just six minutes in.

With captain Paul O'Brien and American teammate Tom Parratt on Blues' books and buoyed by their club's newly-gained Premiership status, and Simon Fitter at Kidderminster Harriers, Vale had the pedigree and Till, Kendall and Parratt missed chances before the break.

Burly forward Anthony Perkins punished Vale for their profligacy in the 20th minute when he powered his way through before chipping the goalkeeper from 12 yards to draw the Solihull team level.

But Kendall had the final say, 12 minutes from the end of the 80 minute under 16s final when his curling shot crept under an unsighted Kingshurst keeper.