TADCASTER Grammar School Under-16s girls’ football team did the county proud as they bowed out of the English Schools’ FA Under-16s Cup.

The school side reached the final of the North Yorkshire County Cup to qualify for the national rounds of the English Schools’ tournament.

But they suffered an agonising defeat at home to South Holderness in the first round, losing 2-0 in extra time after conceding two late goals.

Rob Solk, head of PE at Tadcaster Grammar School, said: “They have shown excellent team spirit and have been a credit to themselves, the school and the competition.”

Captained by Kalina Walton, the girls came through four rounds to reach the County Cup final, defeating teams from Scarborough, Ripon, Knaresborough and Selby. They scored an impressive 22 goals and conceded only three in the process.

Solk said: “We’ve surpassed all expectations. We’ve had two good players out injured and we’ve actually not entered this competition for a few years, so I certainly wasn’t expecting this.”

The side contains two players on the books of Leeds United with several others playing for local York sides.