SOMETHING had to give and how Whel it did as Wheldrake Under-13s were sent spinning to their first defeat of the season.

The Wheldrake wonders had carried all before them in the York British Sugar Minor League U13s fourth division scooping the title weeks ago with a handful of games still left. Every one of their league outings had been won bar a single draw and they were hoping to finish the campaign - their first in the British Sugar set-up - undefeated.

But depleted by Easter holiday commitments and sapped by also playing in the Saturday Selby League, Wheldrake finally came a cropper in the shape of a brilliantly in-form Easingwold Harriers team, who won 4-3.

The Harriers, who had been toppled 5-2 three weeks earlier by the champions, regarded the re-match as their version of the FA Cup final, insisted manager Mike Pannett. And they carried away the honours as proudly as anyone who will eventually appear beneath the triumphal arch at the new Wembley.

Always ahead in a pulsating clash they never looked back once Harry Elliott opened the scoring. Though Wheldrake levelled it was the last time the title-winners enjoyed parity as the Easingwold aces led 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2 and finally 4-3 much to the delight of Pannett, assistant manager and coach Andy Cuthbert and coach Andy Simpson.

Enthused Pannett: "When we played against Wheldrake before we were drawing 2-2 at half-time, but then they took charge to win 5-2.

"We really wanted to give everything in this match, which we regarded as an FA Cup final and the lads gave 150 per cent.

"They were jelly-legged at the end in the sweltering conditions, but they thoroughly enjoyed the win.

"A lot of the credit must go to Andy Cuthbert who had worked on the lads' fitness with sessions on the Thursday and Saturday before the game."

The Harriers' hit-men were Andrew Sugden (2), John Day, who from playing either in central defence or midfield, was pushed up front, and Elliott.

Pannett's Wheldrake counterpart Nigel Chadwick said it would have been quite an achievement to have remained the entire league season undefeated, but still paid tribute to his team for whom Callum Davies (2) and Will Freeman were on target against Wheldrake.

"A lot of the lads also play on a Saturday in a league in Selby and everything just seemed to catch up with them, but they've had an excellent season," he said.

Chadwick, who is assisted by Tim Mullen, also saluted the way the club had been welcomed in its debut campaign in the British Sugar League.

"We have been delighted at just how sporting all our games have been. There's never been any malice and we've enjoyed it all the way.

"We also got to the quarter-finals of both cup competitions in which we beat teams from the third division so we have an idea of how we might do when we go up next season."