Coach Dave Bush has answered the prayers of a York women's football team by transforming their fortunes from losers to winners.

Sheriff Hutton Ladies team made a plea for a 'miracle worker' in the Evening Press in February after never winning a match.

Bush got in touch and agreed to give it a go, and three weeks into the new season after a back to basics training regime, the team have recorded two wins - and a first ever clean sheet.

The first win came against Thirsk. Despite leading 1-0 at half time, Sheriff Hutton conceded two goals - something that would previously spark an onslaught - but Bush changed the tactics and Eleanor Hall scored her second and Hannah Bush rocketed in a free-kick to make it 3-2.

Then they completed the revolution with an emphatic 12-0 win over York new girls Huntington.

It was 3-0 at half time before the floodgates opened and goals poured in from all quarters. Laura Hendry hit two, as did Marie Rientol, and Caroline Searston bagged a single.

Substitutes Bush and Tracey Williamson then charged in with a second wind as Bush added five to the tally and Williamson another two.

It was also a first clean sheet for goalkeeper Wendy Challis-Jones.

She said: "I was over the moon. We won the other week but that was 3-2, so this was my first clean sheet.

"When you think that last year we finished on minus points with a minus 133 goal difference, you can really see what Dave has done for us.

"We have always looked at it as we are trying to enjoy ourselves, have a laugh and get some exercise. Until this season, we had never won a match and I think our worst defeat was about 27-0, but we always came off smiling and stuck together.

"But this year we are actually working properly as a team and that is starting to show.

"We call him Jesus."

Anyone interested in joining can go to training at York University on Wednesday's from 8-10pm.

York City lasses cook up a Sheff surprise

York City Ladies continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-0 whitewash of Sheffield.

Lou Ross fired them ahead with the only goal of the first half after latching on to a run and cross by Naomi Payton down the left wing.

After half-time, Charlie Woodward found the net yet again with a well-judged lob after the 'keeper had been left stranded by a Kelly Chesterton shot.

Chesterton herself then curled in a beautiful left footed effort to make it 3-0, a week after netting four in a 7-1 defeat of Grimsby in which Jenny Garnett (2) and Woodward also scored.

The first team go to Keighley tomorrow and the reserves are at home to Scarborough in a crunch derby, kick off 2pm.

New kids on the block York City U14s have made a strong start to life in the RAF West Riding Girls' Football League.

The newest additions to the club stable were put straight into division one after impressing the league secretary in their first ever 11-a-side friendly and proved their merit with a 2-2 draw with stand-out favourites Bradford on the opening day.

Last week they built on that with a 6-3 win at Howden Clough including goals from Nicole Schofield, Ellie Nicholson and Abby Shoebridge, with Gen Wells scoring with the last kick of each half.

New recruit Helen Winterburn impressed in defence with a string of perfectly-timed challenges in the penalty area.

Today they visited Nostell Miners Welfare in the preliminary round of the league cup.

Home matches usually kick off at 11am on Sundays at Oaklands School.

Updated: 10:53 Saturday, October 15, 2005