A TEAM of young female footballers scored an instant hit in their first season of competitive matches.

FramwellgateSchool's under-14 girls' team was only set up at the start of the academic year, with no great expectations, but they rounded off their maiden season as Durham County Champions.

Under the coaching duo of PE mistress Erika Dobbie and her assistant, English teacher Carrie Swan, the Framwellgate girls sailed through the group stages of the competition, involving 32 teams across the Durham Schools' FA area, between the Tyne and Tees.

Following further victories in the knock-out stages they qualified to face local rivals Durham Johnston School in the final, played at Durham University's Racecourse ground.

Backed by a large following of family, friends and fellow pupils, Framwellgate went 2-0 up but were pegged back to 2-1 before they rounded off with two late goals to see skipper Brogan Prudhoe lift the cup.

Brogan, herself, scored two of the goals, while the other scorers were Rachel Hedley and Leanne Curl.

Miss Dobbie said it was a 'thrilling' finale to an excellent first season.

"It's a new team and it's gone really well.

"We have one or two girls who play for local club teams, which means they have a little bit of experience, but most of the girls had never played at a competitive level like this."

Brogan plays at Darlington Spraire Lasses, while Rachel and Leanne are members of the Chester-le-Street women's squad, and Emma Illderton, the team's star defender, travels to play at Blyth on weekends.

Other members of Framwellgate's cup-winning squad were Jemma Pyle, Maisie Williams, Alison Mell, Michelle Wilkinson,Gillian Baird, Jade Wiseman, Helen McNish, Danielle Brady, Laura Bryden, Elizabeth Dawson and Katie Brennan.