Junior Soccer Scene ...

MALVERN WANDERERS 4, COOKLEY BOYS 3

It turned out to be a very exciting match, turning one way then the other. The deadlock was broken when a mix up in the Wanderers' defence allowed Godfrey in to score after 20 minutes. Before the Cookley supporters had finished celebrating, Rob Cullen took a quick throw in and with some excellent one-touch football and a flick from Neil Watts, Jamie Thomas headed home to level the scores.

Mark Hooper came on for Andy Sutton at half time but a second defensive error by Wanderers was again heavily penalised, when Gilman scored after the two central defenders Fitch and Munn went for the same ball. Again Wanderers equalised within a minute, when the ball was half cleared to Paul Edwards, he chipped the ball into the path of Zeki Koral, who side footed it past the advancing keeper. David Bundred came on for Lee Dawe and soon after Edwards made it 3-2 after Neil Watts had won the ball and turned in the area and pulled it back for him to slot home into a empty net. Cookley then levelled the match again when Godfrey got his second from the penalty spot. Jamie Thomas scored the fourth and his 58th of the season to win the match. Wanderers now brought Joel on to strengthen the midfield after Anthony Smith had run himself into the ground.

Every member of the team can be proud of their achievement.

Man of the Match was Paul Edwards.

NEWTOWN SPORTS BOYS 5, WORCESTER RANGERS 2

NEWTOWN progressed into the semi-final of Mercian Elgar U15's Junior League Cup with this hard fought victory over Worcester Rangers.

Both sides were fully committed in the early play but it was Newtown who broke the deadlock with a fine Tom Vaughan goal. The rest of the half was pretty even with defences and goalkeeper on both sides excelling. Half time 1-0.

The early play in the second half saw James Badham score from a corner. Worcester pushed Newtown back on the defensive with some strong play and only great saves from Antony Lampitt kept them at bay. Against the run of play James Badham scored his second and Newtown's third. This was soon followed by a Matt Ireson goal again from an Andy Fletcher corner. With Newtown well on top the best goal of the game was scored by James Badham after great work from Tom Vaughan. To their credit Worcester kept pushing forward and were rewarded with a penalty which they easily converted. With five minutes remaining they were awarded another penalty when Peter Boyle handled on the line and was duly sent off. Again the penalty was well converted to round off an excellent cup tie.

Man of the Match was James Badham.

WYVERN YOUTH 2, WELLAND 2

WELLAND, despite having 75% of the possession in the first half, were surprised to find themselves 2-0 down at half time in this Mercian Elgar Under 14's Junior League match, being caught out more than once by Wyvern's only real weapon - the long ball down the middle.

Half time gave an opportunity to talk through the best way of nullifying this threat and within a few minutes of the restart, Welland pulled one back through James Wade. With substitutes Coles and Hynds coming on to freshen things up in the energy sapping wind and freezing rain, and Forrester, Lacey, Smith and Justice now handling the Wyvern attack consummately, Welland continued to press with Holland, Page and Taylor always threatening and half chances falling to Witts - but none of this play was rewarded with a goal. Then with seconds remaining, Tom Holland beat two Wyvern defenders, forced his way into the six yard box and was brought down by a desperate Wyvern tackle - penalty! This was to be the last kick of the match and pushing aside the nerves, Gareth Witts hit the back of the net to seal a great comeback for Welland.

Man of the Match was James Forrester.

DRAKES BROUGHTON 2,

MALVERN WANDERERS 9

DESPITE Malvern not having their top scorer available for this Mercian Elgar Under 13's Junior League match, it made no difference.

Drakes Broughton matched the visitors for the first 20 minutes of the game who were battling against a strong wind in their faces and very long grass! Malvern's Jon Mealing picked up on a neat though ball to open the scoring and soon completed his well deserved hat-trick with fine approach work provided by Lee Flanagan and Tom Watts. Two minutes later and the ever improving James Lyons picked up a loose ball from the Drakes Broughton keeper and his shot could only be helped on by a luckless defender. The home side pressed forward again and two minutes later had pulled a goal back from a wind assisted curling corner kick.

As early as the fifth minute of the second half James Lyons had scored his second goal with a neatly placed shot, which was soon followed by Jon Mealing grabbing his fourth of the game. Half time sub James White then deftly netted a loose high ball to take the score to 7-1.

Play then slowed down to a midfield battle with Dan Pickett, Bruce Rogers and Tom Watts dictating a lot of the play for Malvern. In the 22nd minute Drakes Broughton caught the visiting defence flat footed to pull a further goal back but Malvern effectively killed the game with Jon Mealing scoring two more to take his personal tally for the game to an excellent and well deserved six.

Malvern's Man of the Match this week goes to James Lyons.

DRAKES BROUGHTON 2,

MALVERN WANDERERS 7

MALVERN Wanderers travelled to Drakes Broughton to take on the Rangers for the first time this season in their latest Mercian Elgar Under 12's Junior League encounter.

Driving wind, rain and pitch conditions meant good football would be at a minimum.

Drakes Broughton opened the scoring when a lack of concentration allowed the home striker to shoot home. The goal seemed to shake up the visitors and saw them equalise through Ross Purser's first goal of the season from 12 yards out after 15 minutes. Five minutes later they were two to the good when Gareth Atkinson punished the home side after a defensive lapse.

A minute after the restart Ben Parker added to his goal tally with a cool finish from a fine through ball. After 44 minutes Drakes Broughton never say die attitude paid off with them reducing the arrears after a goal mouth scramble. Six minutes later it was 4-2 as Michael Dicapita finished coolly from six yards out. Stephen Poole made it 5-2 after clinically finishing from a well flighted Tom Chadney corner. Another corner from Chadney saw Michael Dicapita claim his second of the game to make it six. The rout was completed when Tom Chadney scored direct from his wicked inswinging corner.

Man of the Match was Matt Bayer.

LITTLETON JUNIORS 0,

NEWTOWN SPORTS 4

THIS Mercian Elgar Under 12's Junior League encounter was played in difficult conditions but still proved to be an enjoyable game.

Newtown opened the scoring on three minutes when Gareth Jones played a brilliant ball forward to David Reynolds whose finishing was spot on as he lashed his shot into the roof of the net from 18 yards. Newtown had most of the play and it was no surprise when David Reynolds extended his goal tally when he again placed his shot well with another superb left footer. Just before half time fellow striker Edward Lumb went close after Littleton's keeper saved well from a corner kick. Newtown lost their way at times but Tom Ferguson and Adam Oakley battled well and lead Newtown to a comfortable victory.

The second half saw Newtown playing against a now strong wind but they needed no excuses and doubled their lead with goals from John Davies and David Reynolds. Another Newtown player, Lee Jenkins, could have extended their lead but was stopped by an athletic Littleton goalie. Littleton had their chances in the second half and the ever present Mathew Lakey rescued Newtown and Tom Soley saved brilliantly with Craig Philpotts kicking one chance off the Newtown goal line.

Man of the Match was David Reynolds.

LYPPARD RANGERS 1,

MALVERN WANDERERS 2

MALVERN Wanderers reached their consecutive Under 12's Cup final with a hard fought affair at Brickfields against Lyppard Rangers in near arctic conditions.

A hard fought battle with no team giving an inch was much the way of the game for the opening quarter of an hour. Wanderers got the break though after gradually getting the upper hand when a fine solo run from his own half saw Gareth Atkinson slot the ball past the oncoming keeper. The home keeper then made a number of brave saves to keep his side in the game. This was rewarded seconds from half time when a right wing cross was converted for Lyppard to level.

This goal spurred the home team on and honours were even in the second half until Stephen Poole ended a fine run with a clever finish to claim victory with extra time beckoning.

Man of the Match was Matt Bayer.

NEWTOWN JUNIORS 0,

NEWTOWN BOYS 1

JUNIORS entertained club rivals Boys in this Mercian Elgar Under 10's Juniors League game.

Juniors once again started very brightly attacking Boys from the start. Some good passing and movement from Dan Robinson, Craig Preece and Richard Keers kept the Boys on the back foot. Juniors' first effort fell to Craig Preece who volleyed wide. Juniors kept up the pressure and a lively James Mccann was unlucky when after a good run down the left, his shot hit the side netting. For all of Juniors' possession in the first half though, they did not force Boys' keeper Stuart Johnson to make a save.

The second half was more evenly contested with the game going end to end. Juniors forced a series of corners but could not capitalise on them. A long range effort from Richard Doyle also just cleared the bar. As time went on the Boys became stronger and following a good run down the right by Lee Gittins, the Boys were awarded a corner. The resulting kick was cleared but the ball fell to Ollie Lean who crossed the ball back in for Mark Twinberrow to stab the ball home. With minutes remaining Juniors pushed for an equaliser but it was the Boys who broke again, this time keeper Max Sharpe made a fine save from an effort from Lee Mason.

Juniors Man of the Match was Richard Keers.

Juniors are sponsored by S J Prosser & Son, Painter & Decorators.

DROITWICH SPA TIGERS 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U10S 5

NEWTOWN Sports Colts travelled to Droitwich in this Mercian U10 League fixture.

The Colts started in a bright fashion and Jamie Caffull opened the scoring after only a couple of minutes following a goal-mouth scramble. The Colts played some controlled passing football on a difficult pitch which had extremely long grass. Jacob Buckle extended the Colts lead, finishing off a flowing midfield move and a fine pass by Sebastian Edwards. The Tigers found it hard going, especially against the dependable defensive partnership of Max Elmes and David Roskams.

However, early in the second-half the Tigers did give the Colts a scare by pulling a goal-back with a fine strike which left keeper David Rowley with little chance of saving. The Colts bounced straight back with goals from Wesley Powell and a brace from Louis Jones. The Tigers kept battling but some fine saves from their keeper prevented the Colts from extending their lead.

This was a polished performance by the Colts, who are sponsored by Cotteswold Dairies.