FOOTBALLERS from Lakeside Primary School are walking on water.

They have just been crowned North Yorkshire Schools six-a-side football champions after beating rivals St Aelred's 1-0 in the county final at Riccall.

Sam Bamber netted the golden goal which settled a tense tussle after the game had finished 0-0 in regulation time.

The result was sweet revenge for Lakeside, who had been beaten in the Cade Trophy final by Tang Hall-based St Aelred's earlier in the season.

Both schools qualified through that tournament to the North Yorkshire finals but this time it was Lakeside, whose progress through the group stage had included victories over Longman's Hill, Selby 1-0, Northfield and Scarborough 3-1, who came out on top.

They will now represent York in the North of England finals in Sheffield in February.

"The boys are quite excited at the prospect of going to Sheffield. They have done really well this seaason," said teacher Richard Crabtree.

It is their second piece of silverware this campaign, having won the York Parent Teachers' Association Five-a-Side tournament.

The winning Lakeside squad was Sam Bamber, Jamie Forbes-Walker, Lee Walker, Adam Johnson, Dominic McGregor, Bradley Clough, Luke Clayden, Dandan Smith, Jack Maud, Jason Mortimer and Jake Atkinson.

Updated: 09:16 Wednesday, November 12, 2003