MALVERN United entertained Bromyard in their latest game in the Mercian U14 league and it was Bromyard who started the brighter going 1-0 up after 12 minutes.

MALVERN UNITED 4, BROMYARD TOWN JUNIORS 4

From the restart Tom Ferguson sent Dave Reynolds on his way to dribble through the Bromyard defence and equalise within 30 seconds.

With both sides playing attacking football Bromyard got their second goal after 25 minutes and the third four minutes later and if it wasn't for some well-timed saves from United keeper Alex Jenkins it could have been more.

United started the second half with more purpose. As Liam Harford shaped up to take a corner, defender Gareth Atkinson ran from the half way line, leapt head and shoulders above everyone to meet the ball perfectly and stun the Bromyard contingent with a magnificent headed goal.

Bromyard still pressed forward and it was no surprise when they got their fourth after 50 minutes. This was the cue for supersub Rob Lecesse to enter the arena and within two minutes he had grabbed a goal back slotting the ball clinically past the advancing keeper following a great run from Tom Ferguson.

United picked up the pace and started playing some quality football with Nik Zikking, Liam Harford, Andy Nolan and Lee Jenkins forcing the play forward at every opportunity and Dom Portman, Mike James, Craig Philpotts and Gareth Atkinson keeping it tight at the back. Five minutes from the end Andy Nolan caught Bromyard napping with a quickly taken long throw to Tom Ferguson who battled his way through to fire past the keeper from an acute angle and snatch the equaliser and share the points.

Man of the match was Nik Zikking.

After match refreshments were kindly donated by Reg and Ann of the Cross Keys.

PEOPLETON JUNIORS U14s 2,

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U14s 2

(Malvern won 4-3 on pens)

MALVERN Town Wanderers reached their fourth consecutive cup final but it was as tight an encounter imaginable between the league's top two sides.

In very blustery conditions good football was hard to produce as grit and determination came to the fore. Wanderers struck the first blow after 22 minutes as Luke Arnold finished in typical fashion from close range. Eight minutes later Peopleton were level from a well worked set piece. Fine approach play involving Sean Carrey picked out Zach Blood to cleverly outwit the oncoming keeper to go into the interval with the advantage.

With Peopleton making use of the wind in their favour and the slope they finally found a way through a resolute defence led by the outstanding Matt Bayer to equalise and take the tie into extra time.

Ten minutes each way saw no further score as neither side was giving an inch and any error meant a cup exit.

The penalty shoot out brought great drama with keeper Ashley Bennett's agility saving Peopleton's first two spots kicks. Up stepped Zach Blood, Kris Denslow, Shaun Carrey and man of the match Matt Bayer to see the visitors through.

Malvern Town Wanderers are sponsored by Malvern Tree and Garden Services.

BREDON COLTS 1, WELLAND JUNIORS U14s 7

THE loss of three points and 12 goals from Welland's goal tally as a result of the sad demise of Littleton U14s meant that Bredon were a place above the visitors at the start of this match.

Welland were determined to regain fourth spot in the league table and that determination was obvious from the outset as the tackles went flying in. However, before Welland could turn their determination into goals, midfielder Richard Pitt had to leave the field with a gashed head after bravely contesting a flighted ball.

If anything this spurred the visitors on and it wasn't long before Martyn Smith scored with the lowest header of the season and ten minutes later he lobbed the keeper from the edge of the area to make it 2-0 to Welland.

From then on it was all Welland with chance after chance being created by a hard working and creative midfield of Guy Habbits, Josh Kirby and brothers Andrew and Martyn Smith. It wasn't long before Russell Alderson scored a well worked solo goal to make it 3-0.

Welland's captain, Joe Waldron then got in on the act with Josh Kirby making the half time score 5-0.

Bredon Colts tightened up in defence in the second half but couldn't prevent a clever through ball from defender, Josh Fernie finding Joe Waldron to score his second and Wellands' sixth of the afternoon. Colts refused to give up the ghost and with their only foray of the half pulled one back but it was to prove to be their only consolation as the visitors completely dominated the rest of the match with a solid defensive display by a back four of Huw D'Arcy, Sam Barton (substituted for Shane Jackson), Josh Fernie and sweeper, Steve Forrester.

The hard working Guy Habbitts completed the rout with his first goal for Welland seconds before the final whistle.

Man of the match, sponsored by Welland Wolves Supporters, was Guy Habbitts.

NEWTOWN JUNIORS U12s 3,

KAYS BROADHEATH U12s 3

NEWTOWN entertained current league leaders Kays on a blustery Sunday afternoon but the conditions did not effect a terrific game of football played at a high pace.

It was Newtown who opened the scoring when Josh Butler superbly struck the ball into the top left hand corner giving the Kays keeper no chance. Butler than added a second from close range following a good move down the right. Lee Mason went close from a free kick before Kays pulled a goal back through Liam Gwynne. Gwynne grabbed an equaliser for Kays when he turned on the edge of the box and fired home past Max Sharp. Craig Preece then curled a shot onto the foot of the post but the rebound fell kindly to Kays who broke down the field and took the lead when Ben Salisbury volleyed the ball powerfully into the net.

The second half saw Newtown push forward for an equaliser and although they had a fair amount of possession it was Kays who looked more dangerous on the break. With five minutes remaining Mason broke down the right and smashed the equaliser into the roof of the net. The remaining minutes were frantic as both teams looked for the winner but a draw was a fair result.

Newtown's man of the match was Steve Gilks.

Newtown Juniors are sponsored by Wells Joinery.

WELLAND U12s 5, LYPPARD RANGERS BOYS 2

THESE two teams usually serve up an exciting open game and this was no exception.

In the first half Welland played with a very strong wind at their backs and inevitably dominated possession. Ben Fletcher hit the post early on but the same player then scored an excellent goal with an angled shot. Almost immediately Nathan Budd doubled the lead with a cool finish. Lyppard's pacy strikers always looked dangerous and they finished the half strongly, pulling one goal back and having another disallowed. Fletcher had the last say however, scoring again to give Welland a two goal cushion at half time.

Welland increased their work rate in the second half, the midfield of Fain, Jones and Pugh giving them control of the game. A second goal from Budd seemed to wrap it up but back came the spirited Lyppard boys again to make it 4-2. Welland substitute Chris Elliott put the matter beyond doubt a few minutes from the end.

Although all of the Welland team played well, the skill and vision of Tom Pugh in midfield earned him the man of the match award.

EVESHAM UNITED U12s 0,

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS 0

NEWTOWN Sports Colts, who were without a league fixture, played Evesham United in a friendly on Sunday.

The Colts used the exercise to improve their passing, but in the blustery conditions, playing up a slope this was always going to be tricky. To their credit the Colts tried their best with Elmes, Roskams and Scullion in the Colts defence trying to play the ball out from the back. However, against an energetic Evesham side the midfield of Powell, Caffull, Gath, Crane and Edwards found it difficult to support the front two of Buckle and Twinberrow. Allison, Milward and Jaye came on as able substitutes, but the half ended goalless.

In the second-half the Colts benefited from the conditions and had a majority of the possession, but Evesham always managed to get that foot to the ball just as it looked like the Colts would break. Allison came closest to a goal when he lobbed the advancing keeper, only to see his effort hit the bar, while Johnson made a good save from an Evesham free-kick. In the end the game finished goalless, but this was a solid performance by the Colts who are sponsored by Alan Gath Endorsements.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U11s 7,

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS COLTS U11s 2

THIS was the final mini-soccer league fixture between these two teams before they amalgamate next season and was closer that the scoreline suggests.

In the opening minutes Adam Mayo had a header cleared off the line and Alex Wren went close with a powerful shot. The Colts defenders Chris Webb and Tom Banks calmly dealt with this early pressure but Wanderers eventually took the lead when Douglas Howie swept the ball into the net from Josh Asquith's cross. Howie then turned provider when his pass found Adam Mayo who scored from close range. A superb pass from Josh Ball put Alex Wren through to score Wanderer's third shortly before half time.

In the second half Wanderers continued to press forward and Harry Blood went close before Josh Asquith and Jack Bottomley scored in quick succession. Douglas Howie then scored his second but the Colts refused to capitulate and Max Whittle's long range shot found the back of the net to reduce the arrears. Matt Downes then scored for the Colts before Alex Wren completed Wanderers' scoring in the dying minutes when he unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box.

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U9S 0,

LEIGH & BRANSFORD BADGERS 1

AN evenly matched game, played in the right spirit, but a late strike gave the Badgers all three points.

Newtown started the game with two key players missing due to school commitments. The players who came in gave 100 per cent and were unlucky to be on the losing side. The Colts' first half performance was good, defended well, but only created one goal scoring opportunity. Aaron Bray was put through by Joe Wallace who had a left footed shot which brushed passed the left hand upright.

In the second half the much improved Badgers put the Colts under a lot of pressure, making the Colts' keeper, Ashlea Brewer pull off many fine saves. The Colts could have gone one nil up, when Ryan Davis seemed to have shaken off the Badgers defence, he had a good shot on goal but the impressive Ollie Green was there to block.

Badger's winning goal came when Karl Jennings the Colts midfielder seemed to have been fouled, but the game was allowed to continue, the Colts defence hesitated, the ball was crossed into the box to the oncoming striker whose shot went in off the post.

Colts man of the match was Aaron Bray.