Hot-Shot Harry Read Free

scored the next goal, too, shooting home from Oliver’s pass to secure a 3–1 victory.

    After the other two teams had played their next match, Ashfield topped the group. Gateway had one more game to play, against Denton School.
    â€œWe’ll qualify for the semis if we win or draw,” said Oliver, checking the tables on the big display board.
    â€œYeah, but if Denton beat us, we’re out,” Ravi said.

    Oliver gave a shrug. “Well, we’ll just have to make sure we win.”
    â€œA draw will do,” said Brad.
    But Harry was not playing for a draw.
    â€œWe’re going to win,” he told his team. “And score as many goals as we can.”
    There were lots of goals. Neither side could hold onto a lead for long. At the final whistle, it was 3–3, and Oliver had scored a hat-trick.

    â€œTold you it’d be a draw,” grinned Ravi.
    â€œYeah, well, at least we scored a few,” said Harry, although he was cross that he had not added any goals. His best effort had clanged against the metal crossbar, but it did not go in.
    â€œTake a break now,” Mrs Phillips told the players. “There’s a short interval before the semi-finals.”
    â€œWho are we playing?” asked Oliver.
    â€œA school from the city,” said the teacher. “York Juniors. They won Group B.”

    Mrs Phillips took Charlotte to one side to check how she was.
    â€œI’ll be all right, Miss,” Charlotte insisted. “I feel fine.”
    Leela guessed that her friend was not telling the truth.
    â€œKeep it up, Charlie,” she said when the teacher had moved away. “Do you want some ice?”
    â€œAn ice cream?” asked Charlotte hopefully.
    â€œNo, some ice to put on that ankle!” said Leela.

Chapter Five

Semi-Final
    Harry gathered the Gateway squad together. He wanted to have his own team talk before Mrs Phillips came to take over.
    â€œRight, guys, let’s get ready,” he said. “Dad saw this York lot win one of their games, and he says they play hard. Don’t try anything fancy, Leela, or they will be after you.”
    â€œThen we’ll get a few free kicks, won’t we?” she replied.
    â€œDepends on the ref,” Harry said. “Anyway, we don’t want these guys thinking they can walk all over us. We give as good as we get – OK?”
    â€œOK!” echoed the other players as Mrs Phillips came over.

    â€œGood luck, everyone,” she said. “As long as you do your best, it doesn’t matter about the result.”
    â€œHuh!” grunted Harry under his breath. “A win is the only result we want.”

    Harry’s dad was right about York School. The very first time that Harry got the ball, a defender clattered into him from behind and left him lying on the floor.
    Peeep!
    Harry jumped to his feet when the whistle went, keen to take the free kick himself.
    He kicked the ball low and hard, but the keeper threw himself to his right and turned the ball away to safety.
    As Harry had warned, Leela came in for some rough treatment when she tried to run with the ball.
    She was knocked down twice. The second time, the referee awarded another free kick.

    York expected Harry to go for a goal, but he tricked them by slipping the ball into space on his right instead. Oliver was ready for it, and he steered the ball into the corner of the net with the side of his foot.
    â€œWicked, Ollie!” cried Harry, jumping onto his back.

    But that was their only success of the first half. By half time, Gateway found themselves 2–1 down. York had scored twice in a minute and Brad was to blame for both goals.
    â€œYou dummy!” snapped Harry.
    â€œNever mind, Bradley, these things happen,” Mrs Phillips told him, but she replaced Brad with Ravi for the second half.

    Ravi was on top form. Thanks to his defending, Charlotte only had to make a couple of saves, although one of them