The Pembrokeshire Girls Under 16s County Team have just completed an amazing run of results in the English Riviera International Football tournament held in Exeter last week.

They emerged outright winners of their qualifying group, winning all their games against Darwin Ladies (Lancashire U16s champions), Hallesakers IF (a top Swedish side), Torbay (an England West Country representative side who were last year's tournament winners) and, perhaps most impressively of all, FC Kitsap (who are a USA Premier Division side from Seatle).

Pembrokeshire beat Kitsap in the semi final, the other losing semi-finalist being Malmo (Sweden's top ladies football club who were last year's European champions).

In the final, Pembrokeshire, handicapped by the loss through injury of both theirs and the tournament's best player, Laura Roberts, lost narrowly 2-1 to Torbay Ladies (whom they had previously beaten in the qualifying league play-offs).

Such impressive results are a testament to how far women's football has progressed in Pembrokeshire and augurs well for the future. They also reflect how hard this squad has worked in preparation for the tournament, having attended weekly training sessions since Easter.

PEMBROKESHIRE 4 DARWIN 0

After a scrappy start, Alis Deason settled Pembrokeshire nerves with an opening goal driven in from a 25-yard free-kick.

From then on, Pembrokeshire went up a gear and took their chances well, with two fine goals from Laura Roberts (a header and a very special volley) and a further goal from Caryl Davies.

Darwin continued to play neat football, but could not match Pembrokeshire's clinical finishing. Typical of Pembrokeshire's growing confidence was the midfield ball winning of Nerys Jones.

PEMBROKESHIRE 3 HALLESAKERS IF (SWEDEN) 1

Hallesaker presented Pembrokeshire with strong, physically combative opponents. For the first half, the Welsh girls had to match the Swedes' aggressive ball winning style of play. Indeed, the Swedes' opening pressure paid off to put them into an early lead.

However, by half-time Nerys Jones, Laura Morgan and Deason were establishing midfield parity, whilst Pembrokeshire's centre back pairing of Carrie Slack and Emma Jones was coping with Swedish pressure.

Jo Price, in the Pembrokeshire goal, read play well throughout and counteracted the ball over the top with some fine edge of the penalty area goalkeeping.

The ultimate difference between the two sides was a hat-trick from Laura Roberts, who, once Pembrokeshire's midfield were able to bring her more and more into the game, threatened every time she broke down the left.

As the game wore on into the second half, Pembrokeshire settled into some fine passing football, with all squad members performing well, despite a number of niggling injuries, in particular to Imelde Rossi and Emma Jones.

PEMBROKESHIRE 3 TORBAY 2

Pembrokeshire settled from the off with a five-man midfield deceiving the experienced Torbay outfit (last year's tournament winners). Such a tactical ploy was made possible by a fine hard-working performance from Caryl Davies as the lone striker.

The tactics enabled Deason to have free role in midfield to spray wide balls to Roberts on the left and to Nicola Aston on the right; and it was from such wide play that Pembrokeshire opened their account with goals from each of these two wide players.

Torbay got back into the game with a well-worked goal just before half-time. But shortly after the break Pembrokeshire reinstated their two-goal lead after some sterling front play by Davies brought in Roberts from the left who fired in low to the keeper's right.

Torbay increased their work rate, but not their penetration. Carrie Slack and Emma Jones dominated the heart of Pembrokeshire's defence, ably supported by some brave off-the-line keeping from Jo Price.

Laura Richards and Selina Morgan also defended resolutely, both always willing to set up neat play from the back. Emma Jones and Carrie Slack capped fine defensive performances with foraging runs forward, frequently helping to set up incisive counter-attacks.

Somewhat against the run of play, Torbay scored from a corner in the last minute to give a final 3-2 scoreline.

SEMI FINAL

PEMBROKESHIRE 2

FC KITSAP (USA) 1

This was perhaps Pembrokeshire's finest team performance of the tournament. Kitsap, a highly experienced USA Premiership team, were a well organised, fast running side and threatened throughout this very close semi-final.

Jo Price was called on to make several fine saves and Pembrokeshire's back four of Selina Morgan, Carrie Slack, Emma Jones and Imelde Rossi worked tirelessly throughout. Leah Evans also performed well at left back when coming on as substitute.

Kitsap, who deservedly went into the break with a one-goal lead, edged the first half.

In the second half, Pembrokeshire settled down and started finding their passes more accurately. But with the two midfields cancelling each other out, it was always going to take something special to make the difference. This was provided by two outstanding goals from Laura Roberts.

FINAL

PEMBROKESHIRE 1 TORBAY 2

Pembrokeshire were forced to play the final without their skipper, Laura Roberts, who was injured from the preceding day's semi-final. This was a severe blow, but the spirit of the squad, which in three of its preceding four games had come from goal down starts to win, was high and all were determined to give of their best.

Laura Morgan came into left midfield to replace the injured Roberts and performed well throughout. Caryl Davies took over the captaincy and gave a true captain's performance, leading from the front.

Many others of the squad raised their personal game and, despite a disastrous goal down start to a poor defensive error, got back into the game with an equaliser just before half-time from Emma Jones, who cheekily back heeled in a flicked on ball from a corner.

In the second half, Pembrokeshire more than matched Torbay's efforts, with some high quality play. Selina Morgan was moved into midfield and battled tirelessly throughout. Alis Deason, in central midfield, had her best game of the tournament, whilst up front, Caryl Davies, and out wide on the right, Nicola Aston, were posing all manner of problems for Torbay's defence.

Carrie Slack and Emma Jones again had superb performances in the centre of Pembrokeshire's defence.

In open play, Pembrokeshire were starting to dominate. It was therefore bitterly disappointing that with just five minutes to go they conceded a sloppy goal, with Jo Price under pressure whilst attempting to deal with a routine cross.

Nonetheless, Pembrokeshire battled to the final whistle and indeed went close with efforts from Nerys Jones and Caryl Davies, but the fairytale was not to be.

Pembrokeshire started the tournament as rank outsiders, but finished as a confident squad of players whose collective effort was a fine example of the rapid progress in the development of women's football from this county.

As tournament runners-up they came away from Exeter with many admirers and a number of new friends. Next year's tournament will be by invitation only and already our county girls have been invited back. Who knows, perhaps they can go the one step further. They have certainly proved their credentials against top class opposition from England, USA and Sweden.

Summing up the squad's overall performance, Gerry Rigby, Pembrokeshire FAW football development officer said: "Pembrokeshire women's football has been developing now for six years. This particular junior squad is representative of the progress made. They have successfully competed at the highest level and will take that experience back into their Pembrokeshire League teams. I would like to thank the unstinting support of Pembrokeshire County Council's sports development unit and our sponsors Texaco who have supported women's football in Pembrokeshire since its inception."

Phil Thompson, representative of Texaco, said: "Texaco has been delighted to be associated with the development of women's and girls football in Pembrokeshire. Our county juniors are to be congratulated on their outstanding achievement; they have certainly put Pembrokeshire women's football on the international map. For our part, Texaco are privileged to sponsor such a promising squad of youngsters, and will certainly continue to give our full support."

Squad members: Nicola Aston, Caryl Davies, Alis Deason, Leah Evans, Emma Jones, Nerys Jones, Laura Morgan, Selina Morgan, Angharad Nicholls, Jo Price, Laura Roberts, Imelde Rossi, Carrie Slack.