An all-conquering girls' football team could lose a trophy - because they fielded two players who were too young.

Officials of the Oxford Girls' League called foul when they found that the Abingdon Under-12 team included two nine-year-olds, Jenny Webb, of Wootton Road, Abingdon; and Neishia Boal, of Berinsfield.

Under Football Association rules, young girls are not allowed to play older girls for safety reasons.

Success in doubt: Members of the Abingdon Under-12s

The Abingdon team play in a seven-a-side league at Blackbird Leys leisure centre in Oxford and are favourites to win the B Division title, having scored nearly 100 goals and won all but one of their 12 games.

League officials said that the team can play their remaining matches but are unlikely to be allowed to claim the trophy.

Officials are trying to compromise as other teams have said will not take the trophy by default.

Jon Webb, Jenny's father and joint team manager, said: "I can understand the reasons for the rule to protect young girls playing against older, stronger girls but Jenny is 5ft 1in tall and looks older than her age. I think the rule should be applied with more common sense."

He said that if his daughter and her friend, both now ten, had not joined the team, there would not have been enough players to compete.

League chairman Liam O'Donovan said: "The rules are laid down by the FA and we have to abide by them although we have asked many times for more flexibility."