21/11/03 - Junior Soccer Scene

WELLAND U15s had been threatening to take a team apart for the past few weeks and that's exactly what they did when they travelled to Stourport.

The visitors dominated play in all areas of the pitch and gave an early indication of their intent when Martyn Smith hit the crossbar in the opening couple of minutes.

Welland's solid back four easily saw off any counter attacks and their midfield controlled the game for long periods putting Mostyn's defence under ever increasing pressure. So it was no surprise when Russell Alderson received a neat pass from Joe Waldron and smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Mostyn were clearly rattled but could find no answer to the visitors' dominance which was further rewarded by a superb right foot volley by Martyn Smith ten minutes before the interval.

The second half continued in much the same vein and although Mostyn forced a couple of excellent saves from Welland's keeper Sean Jenkins, they never looked likely to turn the game their way. However, 15 minutes from the end they pulled a goal back but Welland seemed all the more determined to extend their lead.

That's exactly what they did when Andy Smith lobbed a high ball from the right into the area which his brother, Martyn got on the end of striking the ball sweetly into the home team's net.

Man of the match, sponsored by the D'Arcy Watford Supporters Club, was midfielder Andy Smith.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U15s 2,

EVESHAM UNITED U15s 0

MALVERN Town Wanderers U15s played host to a strongly fancied Evesham United in their latest Mercian Festival League encounter.

Wanderers started very brightly with fine passing and movement probably their best so far this season. The score was opened on 20 minutes as Zach Blood's accurate corner was headed home fiercely by Tom White at the near post. When called upon the agile keeping of Ashley Bennett kept the visitors at bay with the help of resolute defending from Micky Pearson, Scott Roberts, Matt Bayer and Matt Lakey. The Wanderers' endeavour was rewarded on the half hour seeing Richard Pitt play in Zach Blood whose clinical finish found the top corner.

The second half saw more creation from the midfield of Luke Jones, Tom White, Bruce Rogers and Richard Pitt but as they supplied the front runners of Kris Denslow, Zach Blood and substitute Luke Arnold, replacing Shaun Carrey, but the score remained at 2-0.

PEOPLETON JUNIORS U15S 2,

MALVERN UNITED U15S 0

MALVERN United travelled to Lower Moor on a sunny Sunday November afternoon to take part in what turned out to be a very entertaining exhibition of football.

Both teams got straight into the action right from the off as Liam Harford and Jamie Faulkner went close for United at the one end, John Davies, Craig Smith, Gaz Atkinson and Mikey James mopped up at the other. With Dominic Portman working his socks off assisting defence and midfield, and keeper Alex Jenkins on top form it was no surprise when it was still deadlocked at half time.

The second half continued in much the same vein with midfield dynamos Jimmy Lonsdale and Chris Crane going for everything and Andy Nolan's shots from distance keeping the Peopleton keeper on his toes. Peopleton were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 67th minute when a free kick just outside the box found its way into the net. Back came United looking for the equaliser and the introduction of Adam Oakley and Matt Beale kept up the pressure. But in the third minute of added time Peopleton sealed the points with a well taken header from a corner which proved to be the last move of a great game played in a sporting manner.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U14s 4,

DROITWICH SPA JAGUARS U14s 1

AN exciting game of flowing football in the Mercian Festival League ended in a good win for Wanderers.

In the first half it was evenly balanced in midfield, no goals scored and not many scoring attempts.

In the second half with fresh subs on and the wind behind them Wanderers played with more purpose. James Lush started the scoring when he pounced on a poor goal kick, beating a defender and put the ball in the net. Jaguars immediately responded when careless defending gave Jamie Gaskins an opening, which he took well. Within a minute there was another goal as Ryan Mansbridge passed to Max White whose stylish finish gave Wanderers the lead again. After that it was all over for the Jaguars as they had to withstand repeated attacks. A superb pass from Calum Campbell gave Ryan Mansbridge the opening for a magnificent finish and then Luke Butler bamboozled his marker and drove home.

Malvern Town Wanderers are sponsored by Pole Elm Garage, Callow End.

WELLAND JUNIORS U14s 3,

DRAKES BROUGHTON RANGERS U14s 1

WELLAND dominated the early part of play with some good skill by Aarron Richards, Ben Raol and nice play between Ben Marks who never stopped running, and Josh Brentnall who always looked dangerous anywhere near the box.

End to end play ensued before Welland's Richard Phelps put the ball through for Josh Brentnall to finish off with a fine goal to put Welland 1-0 up. Welland's Tom Jeffs continued to run at the opposition and before long Richard Phelps was through to slam home for 2-0.

The second half saw Drakes Broughton testing Welland's defence. However Kurt Doyle was confident and vocal along with captain Liam Paddock, who was outstanding at the heart of Welland's defence.

Eight minutes into the second half saw Josh Brentnall break through Broughton's defence to finish well for 3-0. In a hard fought match Drakes Broughton kept coming forward and Welland's keeper Austin Watts made some athletic saves. Drakes Broughton hit the woodwork on one occasion and finally a confused Welland defence allowed an easy attempt at goal for Drakes Broughton's Sam Hicks to take advantage of. Welland reshaped, Dan Griffiths came on down the wing and they held their shape much better until the end.

Kurt Doyle won the man of the match award.

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U13s 6,

WELLAND U13s 0

WELLAND started brightly but Newtown opened the scoring when Lee Gittens headed home from a near post corner.

Lee Mason finished from close range to make it 2-0 and Newtown's third came when Tom Clack's well taken free kick found its way through a crowded penalty box. Craig Preece scored a fine individual goal to give Newtown a comfortable 4-0 lead at half time.

In the second half Newtown continued to push forward and following a goal mouth scramble Lee Mason volleyed in from close range. Preece passed to Mason to complete his hat-trick for number six. Welland continued to battle and looked dangerous on the break. Chris Spicer in goal made some good saves and other Welland chances went just wide.

Newtown are sponsored by Wells Joinery.

LYPPARD REALITY U13S 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U13s 2

AGAIN Newtown Sports Colts were down to the bare 11 as they met Lyppard Reality at the Cinderella Ground.

The midfield of Milward, Jaye, Allison, Caffull and Powell took their time to find their feet. However, the Colts defence of Roskams, Scullion and Elmes easily coped with any Lyppard skirmishes. As the half wore on the Colts forced several corners, but couldn't find the opening, until Twinberrow speculative shot found its way past the Lyppard keeper. Johnson in the Colts goal had to make one great save shortly before the whistle following a Lyppard counter-attack.

In the second-half, the Colts were even more dominant, camped inside the Lyppard half. Midway through the half, Colts extended their lead through Twinberrow again, after he had battled well to force the ball over the line. The Colts had numerous chances to finish the game off, but lacked the killer instinct. With about five minutes left Lyppard broke away and scored to set-up a nail-biting final few minutes.The Colts held out without really being threatened.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U12S 2,

HADLEY RANGERS U12S 3

THE Wanderers finally lost their unbeaten record to long standing rivals Hadley in what proved to be a tough encounter between two teams who gave everything in an end to end match of high drama.

Hadley had much of the play in the first half as they took advantage of the slope and goalie Ben Wheeler had his best game of the season as he made some excellent saves to keep Wanderers in the game.

It was Wanderers who scored the first goal against the run of play as a move involving Harry Blood and Alex Wren saw the ball pushed through for Alex Bakanothosis to latch on to and slip pass the keeper. This just seemed to spur Hadley on and they pushed hard for an equaliser . A penalty was awarded close to half time and Hadley equalised from the penalty spot.

In the second half Wanderers' Alex Whittle, who put in his best performance of the season, prompted some good moves and periods of Wanderers pressure led to a corner that Josh Asquith swung in for Dougie Howie who just clipped the bar with his shot. That was a turning point in the match as Hadley took the ball straight up field and, after a corner, forced home their second goal. They soon added a third and though Wanderers replied late on with a close range shot from Dougie Howie, Hadley took all three points to stay top of the league.

WELLAND U12s 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U12s 2

NEWTOWN recorded their second win against league newcomers Welland, but it was not a comfortable win.

The first 15 minutes was a fairly even contest, with Sports just having the edge. It wasn't until the 25th minute that Newtown went in front, an excellent through ball from Oscar Hooper found Louis Loader in space to shoot wide of the keeper.

The second half started with a flurry of shots from the Newtown forwards without adding to the score. Welland were content to hit on the break, and had two opportunities to score; one that rolled along the goal line, and the second a shot that forced a fine save from Chris Reynolds.

In second half all the play was concentrated in the Welland half, but Newtown were unable to add to their lead. Welland then broke from defence and equalised with a splendid goal. The home side would have settled for a point, but the Newtown forwards had other ideas, with a dogged determination Chris DeBonis won the ball on the left wing, fed the ball to Dan Hunt whose shot cannoned off the keeper to Josh White, he found Andy Matthews who shot wide of the keeper to make it 2-1.

Newtown Sports are sponsored by PW Jones of Hillbury Coaches, Burleigh Gate, Hereford.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U11S 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U11S 3

NEWTOWN maintained their 100 per cent start to the season but had to weather late concerted Wanderers pressure before securing the points with a last gasp goal.

Juniors were out of the blocks first and saw a Watling shot go inches wide and a Bannister effort smack back off the post. Wanderers had their moments and Gregory scuffed a shot wide and Loader had to make a smart save at his near post. Juniors now enjoyed a spell of pressure that brought out the best in the Wanderers keeper. He brilliantly tipped over a Watling free kick and saved smartly from Morton but the ball broke into midfield and Matt Wren superbly clipped the ball into the unguarded net. The Juniors lead was doubled when Watling drilled his shot goalward, the ball hit the inside of the post and was stopped by the keeper and defender but Morton reacted brilliantly to tap the loose ball home.

The second half was a more even contest and the Juniors defence, superbly marshalled by Christopher Parker, repelled most attacks and dealt with Wanderers more direct and aerial route. Wanderers did bring themselves back into the game when a Harry Gregory free kick flew into the top corner giving Loader no chance. With time running out Juniors secured the win. A Callum Rock free kick was well saved by the keeper and then he denied Watling's follow up effort but was powerless as Bannister smashed home the rebound.

EVESHAM UNITED 8,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U10S 1

NEWTOWN travelled to Evesham for a top-of-the-table clash only to find the home team in superb form.

Almost from the kick off a fine move from Evesham was well finished off to give them an early lead. Newtown responded well and George Rhodes found George Parsons, who fired the ball home from an acute angle to equalise. Both teams were taking the game to each other and it was not long before Evesham regained the lead following a defensive mix up which resulted in the ball going into the net of a defending player. Newtown continued to press and the impressive George Parsons come close to scoring again following good work by Rowan Standish-Hayes. This seemed to spur Evesham on and they increased their lead with another well taken goal. George Rhodes and Josh Myhill both came close for Newtown with long range efforts. Just before the break Evesham scored again to extend their lead to 4-1.

The second half saw George Rhodes replacing the injured Sam Parsons in the Newtown goal and he pulled of a string of fine saves. Newtown had a good spell of pressure but were unable to breakdown the defence and when Evesham scored to make it 5-1 they were well in control of the game and added further goals.

Man of the match for Newtown was George Parsons.

DROITWICH SPA BOYS U9s 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U9s 0

THE game started off fairly evenly with some good defending from both sides.

It was a very well matched first half with some great play from all. Droitwich came out attacking in the second half and scored a goal within the first few minutes from a corner. This seemed to spark Newtown in to action but they were unable to get beyond the stubborn Droitwich defence. When they finally did the home goalkeeper was in excellent form and saved every attempt.

Man of the match was Sam Nicklin.

Juniors are sponsored by Dawe Construction.