In an exciting finish to the first ever season of girls' league football in York, New Earswick under 12s clinched the title in their last match.

They started the day just behind Heworth on goal difference, but managed to put seven past Wigginton 'B'. Heworth, meanwhile, had a much tougher game at home, running out 2-0 winners over York Tigers. Said New Earswick manager Barbara Owen: "We're absolutely delighted to have won the league in its first season. Our coach, has put in a lot of time and hard work with the girls to make this happen. The girls have been reliable all season."

The under 16s league was also decided.

York Ladies beat their old rivals Heworth in a well-fought match at Hopgrove playing fields to confirm their position as champions.

Remarkably, they have not only won every match this this season, they haven't even conceded a single goal.

Heworth threw everything at York in the last few minutes, and twice came close to scoring, but still couldn't spoil their clean sheet.

Back at Wigginton, the Under-12s 'A' team had a thrilling game against Poppleton, finally losing 5-4. Poppleton rounded off a good day by beating the Wigginton 'B' team by a two-goal margin in a fixture postponed due to February's rain.

The secretary of the girls' league, Chris Hanks, said on the conclusion of a successful first season: "The standard of football has improved dramatically," he said.

"Rawcliffe, Tadcaster and Brayton have all expressed interest in joining the league next season, so there will be some new challenges for the founder clubs in September."

In the meantime, the girls are preparing for much stiffer opposition from all over the North of England in the Wigginton six-a-side tournament on Sunday, May 5.

Updated: 12:03 Wednesday, April 17, 2002