A TEAM of female footballers achieved instant success in their first season.

Framwellgate School under-14 girls' team was set up at the start of the academic year, with no great expectations. But they rounded off their season as Durham County champions.

Under the coaching tuition of PE mistress Erika Dobbie and English teacher Carrie Swan, the team 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 knockout stages they qualified to face local rivals Durham Johnston School in the final, at Durham University's Racecourse ground.

Backed by a large following of family, friends and pupils, Framwellgate went 2-0 ahead but were pegged back to 2-1 before they rounded off a great victory with two late goals.

Skipper Brogan Prudhoe scored two of the goals, with Rachel Hedley and Leanne Curl also on the scoresheet.

Miss Dobbie said it was a thrilling finale to an excellent first season. "It is a new team and it has 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 for Darlington Spraire Lasses, while Rachel and Leanne are members of the Chester-le-Street women's squad and Emma Illderton, a defender, travels to play at Blyth at 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.