Teenagers gave police

90 minutes of trouble when they clashed at Worcester's Perdiswell Leisure Centre.

But the confrontation was on the football pitch as the Bobby Soxxers - made up of police officers, beat managers and a dog handlers - lost 2-1 to the DT Boys, a team of 14 to 17-year-olds who had all been branded troublemakers.

"It was a brilliant game, played in just the right spirit, with handshakes and smiles after," said match organiser Ann Nicholls, the leader of the city council's anti-social team, to which the boys had all been referred.

"The crucial issue is that the match took place at all. The police squad willingly gave up their time and the DT Boys - named after Detached Team and whose original idea it was to hold the match - responded to that.

"Six months ago, these were bored lads hanging around the Warndon and Claines areas, causing mischief and in danger of descending into real trouble but tonight's game has shown that with a proper incentive, all is not lost and anything is possible."

She added that once the challenge was accepted by Warndon Beat Manager, PC Nick Davies, and his Barbourne, Northwick and Claines counterpart PC Paul Green, who jointly organised the police team, response from the 17-strong DT Boys had been 'brilliant'.

The teenagers attended a number of training sessions before the game.

"They've done really well, and from our point of view we've been able to turn the situation round and divert them from causing more trouble on the streets," added Ms Nicholls.

"It's proof that kids are essentially the same as the rest of us - they just need a focus."

PC Paul Green said: "A re-match is definitely on the cards."