WEST Craven will represent Pendle in the regional finals of the Wagon Wheels National Cup.

The unbeaten Barnoldswick school came top of the seven team year seven tournament to earn the right to play for their borough in January.

Organisers said that the standard of football this year was the highest the competition has seen since the event was launched five years ago.

The majority of the games were settled by the odd goal and West Craven finished with an impressive record of played six, won five and drawn one with a total of 16 points.

The side that came closest to breaking their unbeaten record was Edge End who forced a 1-1 draw to finish in third place.

West Craven went on to beat Park 1-0, Walton 2-0, Fishermore 1-0, Mansfield 2-1 and 1-0 against last season's winners Primet High.

West Craven's closest rivals were Park whose two defeats - one against West Craven - cost them dearly as the finished six points adrift of the eventual winners. Park finished with 10 points with a record of played six won three, drawn one and lost two. But they can take pleasure in having the biggest win of the day when they beat third-placed Edge End 5-2.

It was one of two defeats for Edge End who also lost 2-0 against Fishermore. But wins against Primet and Mansfield and draws against West Craven and Walton helped secure third position.

Last year's winners Primet took fourth place despite finishing on the same points as Walton and Fishermore.

However their superior goal difference was enough to take fourth place thanks to a 4-0 win against Fishermore who finished in fifth place.

Walton finished in sixth position with Mansfield in seventh place after beating Primet and drawing with Walton but losing four times.

Primet High School has hosted the event ever since it was launched five years ago and organiser Zav Bowers said that the competition was very evenly matched.

He said: "The teams from all schools were very evenly matched and the games were played in a good sporting spirit. The quality of the tournament was perhaps one of the best at this age group in recent years."

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