AS Arsenal plough on in the Premiership, trying to make it through the season unbeaten, they could take a leaf out of a local youth football team that has just done exactly that.

The Welland Juniors U14s team has made it through the entire season unbeaten, rounding it off with a 5-0 win at home to Bromyard Town to win the Mercian Festival Junior Football U14s League.

Their record is impressive, having played 26 matches and won 23, drawing three, losing not a single match. In addition they are the league's leading scorers with 128 goals and amazingly have only conceded 13 goals all season.

Last Sunday Welland achieved the league and cup double with a 1-0 victory over Drakes Broughton in the Wayne Philpotts Memorial Shield final at Langland Stadium.

Welland captain Liam Paddock won the man of the match award.

Manager Gerald Phelps has done a sterling job, bringing the team together three years ago and seeing them improve year on year until this season, when they have gelled really well as a team and played some good football on their way to the title.

The dedicated management team includes Gerald Phelps, his assistant Andrew Richards and an important addition to the 'team' this year, coach Steve Hynds. Gerald's wife Jeanette deserves special mention for her dedication to the team which is equal to that of everyone else in the squad.

As the statistics suggest, the success of the team has been built on a resolute and miserly defence, ably led by captain Liam Paddock, who has also weighed in with 18 goals, many from free kicks and other set plays. The whole defence has been outstanding this season, with goalkeeper Austin Watts playing a key role when he was called into action, but ably supported all season by a defence of Ashley Shouler, Alex Wood, Liam Paddock and new acquisition this season Kurt Doyle, whose no-nonsense approach has been a major factor in keeping the opposition at bay.

In midfield, the other major newcomer this season, Ben Raol, has been outstanding, scoring some stunning long range goals. He has been ably supported by Ben Marks, who has scored 20 goals, most with his excellent left foot, and Josh Bretnall who has shown clever ball control up and down the right wing this season, scoring ten goals for the team.

Latest acquisition Andrew Smith has brought more steel to the midfield and since joining Welland U14s, has looked an exciting addition, with good distribution skills.

Up front, the regular strikers Richard Phelps and Aaron Richards have been on top form, scoring 41 and 23 goals respectively, many of them spectacular efforts.

On the rare occasions when they were off target, goals from midfield and other areas of the team provided excellent backing to ensure the team remained unbeaten.

The strength of the Welland side has been the fantastic team spirit and squad members Tom Jeffs, Tom Hynds and Dan Griffiths, whose season was sadly cut short by broken leg, have played their part well, regularly coming into the side during the year and providing excellent cover.