MALVERN Town Wanderers played Mercian Festival League leaders Drakes Broughton Rangers at Victoria Park on a damp Sunday afternoon.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U15s 0, DRAKES BROUGHTON RANGERS U15s 1

The first-half saw both sides having a number of near misses and stand-in goalkeeper, Paul Jordan, pulling off some good saves for Wanderers. Ryan Mansbridge hit the side netting and both Joe Blain and Ollie Mason had shots saved by the Broughton keeper.

The second-half started much the same as the first with Ben White having a free-kick saved but on 54 minutes Drakes Broughton took the lead. Wanderers battled hard and made life very difficult for the opposition with stalwart defending and a number of good runs but were unable to score the equaliser making the final score 0-1.

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U14S 2,

LYPPARD SPEEDY 3

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U14S 2,

LYPPARD SPEEDY 0

IN the first of two table-topping matches, Newtown Sports Colts flew into a two-goal lead.

Crane opened the scoring after good work by, Powell, Jaye and Allison. Hale then took advantage of some defensive indecision, as he pounced on a long clearance from Johnson, to head over the stranded keeper. Shortly before half-time Saunders scored for Lyppard following a good move.

In the second half, Lyppard got an early equaliser, when Saunders headed in, against a static Newtown defence. With the clock ticking down a draw looked inevitable, but Lyppard took a quick throw which set Saunders free to grab a hat-trick and all three points.

In the second match, the game was end to end, however it was Newtown who took the lead after several corners. Edwards hit a superb delivery which fell to the feet of Newell who blasted home.

In the second half, Newtown kept possession better in this second game, so much so, that they grabbed a second with minutes to go. Picking the ball up just past the half-way line, Hale powered his way in to the box and could have claimed a penalty, but continued his run to extend Newtown's lead.

LITTLETON JUNIORS 3,

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U14S 2

LITTLETON JUNIORS 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U14S 2

IN this hectic end to the season, Newtown Sports Colts were involved in another double-header, this time away to last season Champions Littleton.

Littleton took the lead when a speculative shot caught the breeze and flew over Johnson. Newtown responded immediately, with Crane feeding Hale who ran at the Littleton defence and finished coolly to equalise. However, shortly before half-time a shot from the edge of the box to increased Littleton's lead.

In the second-half, the game descended in to a frantic battle as Newtown looked for an equaliser. But again it was Littleton who scored, following a swift counter-attacking strike. Newtown finished strongly, with Crane scoring a well taken goal, but they ran out of time.

In the second game, Hale again caused Littleton problems, and beat the offside trap to apply another great finish to give Newtown the lead. Littleton snatched an equaliser shortly before half-time.

With several players carrying injuries, Newtown summoned on all their commitment in the second-half. Allison covered every blade of grass and was rewarded by scoring the winning goal.

NEWTOWN Sports Juniors have had a busy week playing a total of four fixtures all against teams higher in the League than themselves.

On Wednesday, they travelled to Worcester to take on the Oldbury Park Tigers, playing a double header and made the same journey on Sunday to take on Lyppard Speedy, again in a double header.

OLDBURY PARK TIGERS 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U14s 0

OLDBURY PARK TIGERS 3,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U14S 2

THIS was an entertaining game from two fairly evenly-matched sides.

For much of the first-half, Newtown Sports Juniors enjoyed most of the possession but half time, the score remained 0-0.

The second half was a mirror of the first with Newtown constantly pushing forward and probing the Tiger's defence, their keeper being called upon to make a number of inspired saves. With full-time approaching, one of the Tigers' strikers took a speculative shot from outside the box, and the ball crept over the line despite Ben Knott's desperate efforts.

Newtown's man-of-the-match was Richard Doyle.

What the first game lacked in goals was made up for by the second.

Oldbury Park took an early lead after a well-worked move down the left was finished off by a rasping volley that Ben Knott could only parry into the roof of the net. The Juniors responded immediately with a sweeping passing move from one end of the pitch to the other, which was finished off by Newtown's current top scorer, Josh Butler.

The second half started with the Tigers winning a series of free kicks and corners, all of which were defended excellently by the Juniors. It was though, Oldbury Park who again took the lead, breaking down the right and scoring a goal from an unlikely angle. The Juniors again went in search of an equaliser. The ball fell to Josh Butler just outside the box. He turned the Tiger's defence inside out and slotted the ball in at the near post to make it 2-2. With time running out, Oldbury scored what turned out to be the winner. A special mention must go to Ben Knott for his excellent efforts as stand-in keeper.

Newtown's man-of-the-match was Tom Clack.

LYPPARD SPEEDY 3,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U14s 3

LYPPARD SPEEDY 7,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U14s 2

THIS game was full of incident, from the start, Lyppard pushed Newtown deep into their own half.

After five minutes, Lyppard won a free-kick just outside the box and scored when the ball rattled off the underside of the bar. From the restart, the Juniors were inspired. Danny Robinson found Josh Butler in space, he rounded the keeper to make it 1-1. Confidence was now flowing through the team and with 15 minutes gone, the Juniors took the lead. Niall Phillips slipped the ball to Lee Gittins who beat two players, crossed the ball to Butler, who made it two. As the half-time whistle approached, Lyppard looked to have equalised but Richard Doyle cleared off the goal-line.

The second-half started as the first had finished with Newtown in complete control. A series of one-touch passing moves saw Butler race clear again and slip the ball under the advancing keeper. The outcome of the game changed on a freak moment, a tame shot from a Lyppard striker took a wicked deflection and left Newtown's goalkeeper, Chris Spicer, with no chance. At 3-2 up Newtown became nervous and Lyppard won a series of corners and it was from one of these that they finally equalised.

Newtown's man-of-the-match was Josh Butler.

The second game was a completely different affair. Lyppard took the lead almost from the start and then quickly made it 2-0.

The second half saw the Newtown's back four completely overrun. With five minutes to go, the score was 7-0. Newtown's Ollie Lean scored two late consolation goals, but this was a thoroughly disappointing performance

Newtown's man-of-the-match was Ollie Lean.

The team are sponsored by Wells Joinery Limited.

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U12S 1,

HARVINGTON U12S 0

THIS match lived up to its top-of-the-table billing with second-placed Juniors squeezing a hard-fought victory over the leaders.

The match was a tremendous advert for Junior football as both sides played football and tackled and defended stoutly. The all important goal came on 10 minutes, a fine through ball from Crews saw Watling just beat the keeper to the ball and his deft left-foot flick saw the ball go in off the post. Harvington were not without their chances and Freeman saved well from a free-kick whilst Kyte and Parker coped admirably with the Harvington forwards.

The second half was more of the same with attack and counter attack. The final ten minutes saw constant Harvington pressure and the Juniors defence held firm, Freeman saved bravely at the forward's feet but Harvington failed to capitalise on some fine openings. When they did beat the keeper, Mike Roskams produced a brilliant overhead clearance off the line and from the corner the forward headed wide with the goal at his mercy.

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U12S 2,

OLDBURY PARK TIGERS U12S 2

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U12S 3,

OLDBURY PARK TIGERS U12S 0

IN the first game of a Sunday double header, the Juniors received a wake up call after the euphoria of the previous Wednesday night.

Juniors got of to a perfect start when Callum Rock took a fine Crews' through ball in his stride and calmly slotted home his side's 100th league goal of the season.

Oldbury seized the initiative with a fine period of play and when Parker handled in the area, the resultant penalty was easily converted. Two minutes later Oldbury took the lead, the forward picked his spot with a rasping right-footed drive.

The second-half saw Juniors attacking and they were rewarded when Crews met Mallet's corner with a firm header into the net. Juniors pressed for a winner and were awarded a penalty after a trip on Bannister. Parker scored with his first attempt but was made to retake after Oldbury encroachment and his second effort hit the bar. The last minute saw a tremendous goalmouth scramble with Oldbury throwing bodies in the way of five shots and they earned themselves a draw.

The second encounter of the day saw the Juniors secure the points with a three-goal burst in the first ten minutes. Within two minutes Watling latched onto a Crews through ball and rifled home. Two minutes later Mallett's cross found Loader unmarked a yard out and the striker made no mistake. Oldbury were never allowed to settle and Watling made it three with a right foot curler.

The second half saw tiredness take effect with Newtown content to sit on their lead whilst Oldbury failed to trouble the Newtown defence.

OLDBURY PARK TIGERS COLTS U10S 1,

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS COLTS U10S 2

THIS was a tightly fought battle, with a Malvern team which has continued to improve and work hard throughout the season, never losing their determination even in the face of hard opposition.

The game opened with plenty of attack from both sides. But Malvern's goalie Pete Shepherd made some great saves and together with Josh Seabourne and Max Howie in defence made sure that no goals got through in the first half. Some good passing play to Joel Wright produced his first goal taking Malvern into the break with a one goal advantage.

In the second half, Brandon Hudson and Brent Gibbs' strong midfield effort created the chance for a powerful second goal from Joel Wright. A few minutes later, Oldbury scored and the last part of the game was tense and evenly matched as they renewed their efforts, looking for the equaliser. There was action at both ends, Stan Mason was unlucky not to score and Myles Cunningham defended well under pressure. Malvern kept up their concentration and effort though and were rewarded with this good away win.