BANCROFT’S SCHOOL under-13s girl’s made history, when they were crowned Essex County champions for the first time.

However, the day did not start well when a tentative opening performance against Felsted cost them three goals.

The Woodford Green school finished the group stage as runners-up, after four wins and one loss, scoring 18 goals and conceding just three along the way.

They were paired with local rivals Chigwell in the semi-final and took an early lead, but were soon pegged back and the match was decided on penalties.

Goalkeeper Niki Pandya was the Bancroft star, saving the final Chigwell penalty to send her side through to the final.

The final saw a rematch against Felsted, but Bancroft made the perfect start this time with two early goals as a solid defensive display saw them clinch the title.

Bancroft’s landmark victory means the girls advance to the Eastern Regional Finals of the national competition in March.

Bancroft Girls: Joarder, Johal, Day, Pandya, Hague, Wong, Sydenham, Doye, Coburn, Richardson.

? THE Bancroft under-13 boys finished as runners-up in the tournament, after an impressive showing on the day.

Bancroft made a slow start after missing a hatful of chances in a goalless draw with Forest.

Comfortable wins against Maltings Academy, Coopers’ Coburn, Drapers’ Academy and Chigwell followed, but a 1-1 draw with Felsted in their final game meant Bancroft missed out on the title, finishing one point behind neighbours Chigwell.

In all, the boys scored 32 goals, conceding just two and finished the tournament as the only unbeaten side.

They follow the girls’ to the Regional Finals, as do the boys’ and girls’ teams in the under-14 age category.

Bancroft Boys: Prole, Margetson-Rushmore, Juffs, Edwards, Schumacher, Kapur, Booth, Islam, Hopkins, Mead.