Junior Soccer Scene ...

A SECOND consecutive 6-0 victory and another hat- trick, following his previous week's treble, for Luke Arnold saw Malvern Town Wanderers brush aside Mickleton at Sling Lane.

Shaun Carrey's alert play saw him intercept the visitor's kick off to play in Matt Hopwood whose pinpoint cross was headed home powerfully by Arnold.

Hopwood made no mistake for the second with a chip from 18 yards. Scott Roberts' cross picked out Zach Blood to head home from close range for the third. On the stroke of half time Hopwood outwitted all with a right wing corner which curled in at the far post. Two by Arnold in the second half wrapped up the scoring.

Man of the match, sponsored by Malvern Tree & Garden Services, was Scott Roberts.

WELLAND Juniors U14s 6, EVESHAM UTD 0

Welland convincingly stretched their winning run to four games.

The excellent Russell Alderson set up Martyn Smith's first goal of the afternoon after 15 minutes. A second from Smith and an unstoppable left foot volley from outside the area by Josh Kirby made it 3-0 at half time.

Scrambled goals from the front pairing of Joe Waldron and Alderson, his 13th goal of the season, made it 5-0 before Smith completed a fine hat-trick with Welland's sixth goal.

Man of the Match, sponsored by Dorothy Habbitts, was Martin Theaker, a confident display by Welland's goalkeeper.

MALVERN UTD U14s 4, OMBERSLEY COLTS 0

Ombersley visited Sling Lane hoping to repeat their victory over United earlier in the season and were in control for the first 15 minutes.

It was against the run of play when, in the 17th minute, Dave Reynolds intercepted an Ombersley clearance and rounded the keeper to open the scoring. Scorer then became provider, feeding Nik Zikking who scorched past the remaining defender and calmly lobbed the advancing goalkeeper.

With Craig Baker and Jim Lonsdale controlling centre midfield it enabled Zikking, Liam Harford and Lee Jenkins the room to press forward and bombard the Ombersley goalkeeper with shots from all angles.

Tom Ferguson was introduced 10 minutes into the second half and made an immediate impact. With pinpoint precision his pass found Zikking whose first time cross into the area was met by Reynolds, who headed home emphatically.

Hard-working captain Liam Harford twisted and turned past the overrun Ombersley defence to find Reynolds, who once again found the back of the net.

Dave Reynolds was awarded the match ball for his hat trick. After match food was kindly provided by Reg and Ann at the Cross Keys.

WORCESTER JUNIORS U13s 3, MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U13s 11

WITH fresh substitutes, Wanderers went on to dominate a game which had still been in the balance at half time.

Marc Heptinstall opened the scoring for Wanderers with his first goal of the season, a well struck left footed drive.

Ryan Mansbridge played in Jack Higgs for the second goal after 10 minutes and when Luke Borton hit a magnificent free kick from distance Wanderers seemed to be cruising. Perhaps they were, for Juniors fought back with two goals against casual defending. A beautiful pass by James Lush gave Higgs his second goal to make the score 4-2 at half time.

After the break Wanderers took control as Luke Butler scored from a Borton corner. The fast running Calum Campbell got his first of the day and, after two goals were disallowed, Mansbridge smashed home a seventh.

Juniors claimed a breakaway goal before Max White steered a left footed shot through a crowded goal mouth for number eight. There was till time for Campbell to claim two more, the second a delicious lob following excellent play by Butler. Ryan Mansbridge ended the scoring spree.

Worcester Rangers U13 1, Newtown Sports U13 4

Newtown were surprised to find themselves a goal behind after a first half in which they dominated. However, their fighting spirit was evident in a second half display which eventually saw them win comfortably.

A bright start by Newtown, with Phil Harris and Lee Hammond combining well in midfield, saw a host of chances. Inspired goalkeeping denied Newtown, who were caught napping just before half time when, in their only attack of the half, Rangers turned a hopeful punt downfield into a well taken goal.

Newtown soon pulled level when Ricky Buckland met a cross from Chris Bowen at the far post. Jamie Ferguson volleyed home to give Newtown the lead and he was on hand to add a third when Buckland's shot rebounded off the post. Adam Johnson finished the scoring with a superbly taken volley.

WELLAND JUNIORS U13s 16, WARNDON BOYS 0

WELLAND Juniors accomplished side had a field day and would have scored more had it not been for the brave Warndon Boys keeper.

Goals were scored by Aaron Richards (5), Richard Phelps (5), Ben Marks (2), Liam Paddock (2) and Josh Brentnal (2).

Man of the match this week was the whole team.

LEDBURY SWIFTS U12s 3, PEGASUS JUNIORS 1

AFTER last week's disappointing performance, Swifts returned to winning ways.

Swifts were in control from the start and soon took the lead when Thomas Boyle got on the end of a Sam Beale clearance and lobbed the advancing keeper. Chris James, coming up from full back, curled the ball into the far corner of the net to put Swifts well in control. However, before half time Swifts were caught by a good counter attack and Pegasus pulled a goal back.

With Joshua Emery winning everything in midfield and Ross Davis winning the ball in the air at the back, Swifts never looked in danger. Boyle finally sealed the win with a long range shot that gave the keeper no chance.

LYPPARD BOYS U12s 1, NEWTOWN JUNIORS U12s 15

THE home team took the lead after just five minutes when they caught Newtown napping.

Newtown's response was excellent and they created numerous chances before eventually equalising after 20 minutes. The goals then started coming and they finished the first half with a 4-1 lead.

The second half continued with Newtown completely dominant and playing some of their most creative football of the season. Preece on the left tormented the Lyppard defence throughout the game whilst Lean in central midfield was in total control.

The goals for Newtown came from Butler (7), Mason (3), Lean (2), Gittens (2) and Preece and all were of a high quality.

Newtown's man of the match was Craig Preece.

Suckley Harriers U12s 0, Newtown Sports Colts 2

Colts were frustrated from the kick-off by Suckley's offside tactics, which the they found difficult to adapt too. Time after time Colts' attacks were thwarted by the referee's whistle and so Roskams, Scullion and Elmes, in the Colts defence, had to keep on their toes to defend the resulting free kicks.

Shortly before half-time Colts opened the scoring. Jaye broke the offside trap but was fouled on the edge of the area and Powell slotted home the resulting free-kick with a terrific strike.

Colts goalkeeper Johnson was a spectator in the second half, but with the attack still wary of the offside trap they found it difficult to open up the Suckley defence. Just as exasperation seemed to be getting at the Colts players, they increased their lead. Following yet another corner, the ball got flicked on to Milward who hit a superb half-volley into the roof of the net.

Newtown Sports Colts U11s 0, Newtown Sports Juniors U11s 2

Juniors were made to battle to the end in this difficult encounter with a Colts side that looked far better than their league position suggests.

Juniors started the game well with Richard Higgs opening the score inside five minutes, with a low drive that eluded the Colt's keeper. That goal spurred Colts into action, and the game became one of end to end football with both sides creating chances.

In the second half the game became a midfield battle with Juniors just having the edge but Colts wouldn't lie down, and Joe Bament was unfortunate to see a good shot pushed over the bar by keeper Chris Reynolds.

Colts stand-in goalkeeper Oscar Hooper was having an excellent game and denied Juniors a goal until five minutes from the end, when Louis Loader drove a shot from 20 yards that Hooper couldn't reach.

Newtown Sports Juniors U10s 0,

Newtown Sports Colts U10s 0

The under 10s Newtown derby saw the Colts goalkeeper Merly deny the Juniors with an excellent display.

Juniors attacked incessantly and could have been four goals up after five minutes. Merly produced breathtaking saves to prevent Watling, Bannister and Turner from scoring. The corners were fizzed in brilliantly by Parker but somehow Colts always had a body in the way.

The second half was again one-way traffic, although Colts produced a warning sign when Fletcher ran clear but Freeman raced off his line to clear.

Parker, for the Juniors, saw his shot hit the outside of the post but it was Colts who almost stole the points when a long ball caught out the Juniors' defence and a great opportunity was blazed over the bar. Bannister came closest for Juniors when his curling shot struck the angle of post and crossbar.

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U9s 0, MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U9s 0

FAR from a boring nil, nil, this was a wonderful game of football played in the right spirit.

From the start Wanderers had Colts on the back foot but the Colts resilient defence of Aaron Bray, James Counsel and Ollie Bond stood firm. The Colts midfield pairing of Karl Jennings and Dominic Ferguson had to work hard closing the Wanderers impressive front line down, only allowing them to shoot from distance.

Ex-Colts player Alistair Hunt got around the back of the Colts defence one-on-one with Ashlea Brewer, the Colts' keeper, but Brewer made a fine block with his feet.

Colts had one heart-stopping moment when Thomas Howells put in a good challenge on the Wanderers striker but the ball travelled towards the Colts' goal and rebounded off the foot of the post. In the last few minutes Brewer had to be on top of his game to keep a clean sheet, producing many fine saves.

The Colts' manager's man of the match award went to Aaron Bray for his superb defending.