A DINAS Powys youngsters had helped her team triumph in the Welsh Colleges Football Association Female Cup.

Jess Thompson, 17, is part of Team CAVs, Cardiff and Vale College's first female squad.

The team, a newly formed partnership between Cardiff and Vale College and Cardiff City Football Club Foundation and Education, took part in the group fixture schedule where the top two teams competed in the finals.

“The competition included some very experienced female programmes that have been competing in Cat 1 football previously,” CAVC head of football Jamie Sherwood said.

"Neath Port Talbot, Swansea City LFC Academy, Merthyr College and Gower College all have a strong presence in the female college programme.”

Team CAVs were up against Merthyr College first. The game started slowly with both teams feeling their way into the game but a goal from Montana May saw Team CAVs open the scoring and with resolute defending marshalled by Lilly Crandon and Robyn Facey saw Team CAVs start the day with 1-0 win.

“Next we played the unknown quantity of Pembrokeshire College,” Jamie said.

“Team CAVs quickly set about putting them under pressure with Bevan Evans and with Joanne Hodge causing havoc on the flanks the girls quickly asserted themselves and Team CAVs found themselves with 2-0.”

Next up, Team CAVs faced Neath Port Talbot College, playing in the kit of Swansea City.

“Team CAVs versus Swansea City was everything you would expect from a local derby – high intensity, quick tempo, strong tackles and end-end-end football,” Jamie said.

Despite Joanne Hodge nearly scoring and strong defence from Molly Facey, the Swans won 1-0.

Unfazed, Team CAVs then went on to beat Gower College 2-0 and Coleg Menai 4-0, leading to a showdown between Team CAVs and Merthyr College in the final.

After a score of 1-1 the Team CAVs versus Merthyr College match went into extra time, but eventually Team CAVs came out on top with a convincing 3-1 win.

“Team CAVs were the champions and the girls celebrated in style and were full of noise, song and banter immediately after the final whistle,” Jamie said.

“The team performed extremely well against some really tough opposition and both me and tutor Matt Roberts are massively proud of them.”