LEPTON Highlanders Under 15 girls football team have a national target on the horizon.

Despite being a year below the age barrier they entered the West Riding Under 16 County Cup this year and won.

The final was a thriller against Goole Town.

Emily Senior gave Lepton a slender 1-0 first half lead, but Goole equalised 20 minutes after the interval.

With just eight minutes left on the clock, Lepton were awarded a free kick 25 yards out which Rachel Lockwood duly dispatched into the top corner of the Goole net.

It was a fantastic achievement and the win gives Lepton automatic entry into the Northern Regional Finals of the Tesco Cup which will be played on Saturday at the University of Manchester sports ground.

It promises to e a big test as the girls will need to be at their best as they will be up against teams from Manchester United, Tranmere Rovers and York City.

The winners of the northern finals will then go on to the national finals which will be played in May at Leicester City’s Walkers Stadium.

Manager Clive Walsh is thrilled at his teams progress and said: “They are a fantastic bunch and most of them have come through Lepton’s junior ranks.”

And there could be success on two fronts as the girls have also secured a place in their Under 15 league cup final.