Junior round-up

PENALTIES were required to separate two evenly matched sides in Saturday's Ambassador Evesham League Cup final at Bretforton.

A tremendous contest saw both sides give everything and James Offord and Dave Mace came closest to giving Bredon the lead.

Alcester started the second period in brighter mood and it needed last-ditch interventions from goalkeeper Jamie Moore and Jack Brixey to ensure a clean sheet.

Bredon penalty appeals were waved aside in extra time before the cruel climax to a game worthy of the occasion.

Littleton Juniors U-9 1,

Peopleton Tigers 4

LITTLETON made the better start to Saturday's final and opened the scoring after just five minutes when Jack Dell weaved through the Tigers defence to slide the ball home.

Solid defending maintained the one-goal deficit while Peopleton attacks were denied by the safe handling of Clayton Treadgold in the Littleton goal.

Continued pressure paid off, though, when Japhet Humphries struck the ball low and across the keeper to equalise. It was 2-1 just before half-time when a Josh Walker throw was back-headed over the keeper by Richard Emsley.

Littleton again pressed after the interval but they were met by clinical Tigers' counter attacks. A through ball from Daniel Johnson allowed Humphries to scythe through the centre and slot the ball past the keeper.

Powerful free-kicks by Dell failed to haul Littleton back into the game as goalkeeper Bob King dealt competently with the strikes.

And the Tigers' paws were as good as on the trophy when player of the match Humphries completed his hat-trick with a powerful shot from the edge of the area to seal victory in what was a fiercely fought and well contested battle.

Peopleton U-13 4, Droitwich Spa 0

THREE first half goals sealed a comfortable win for Peopleton in a match they dominated from the opening whistle.

Nick Andrews glanced in the opener from a Nicki Henry corner and the lead was doubled courtesy of Lea Miller's long distance floater. A third from Jack Bostock left the hosts firmly in charge at the interval.

However, their defence had to be at the top of their game to keep a clean sheet but even the back four were able to push forward after the break when a change of goalkeeper helped Spa's cause.

The only goal of the second period came from Henry after a goalmouth scramble.

Penn Colts 2, Evesham Utd U-16 8

UNITED appear to have overcome their mid season spate of injuries as they easily accounted for Sunday's hosts.

However, their availability problems has scuppered any chance of title honours this term although they are keen to end the term in style after making it 15 goals in the last two outings.

Danny Bostock grabbed a hat-trick, there were two apiece for Ryan Gregg and Gareth Benjamin while Stuart Bearcroft chipped in with the eighth.

Welland 2, Evesham Utd U-15 6

THE ten-man hosts struggled to contain determined opponents in the second period after twice taking a first half lead.

Tom Heath's free kick soon levelled matters but a resilient Welland side regained the lead when a forward stole in behind a static defence.

Nash made it 2-2 before Evesham used the advantage of the elements and the slope to maximum effect as they penned their hosts in their own half in the awful conditions.

Heath finally gave United the lead and Callaghan made it 4-2 before late strikes from Matthew Denny and Lee Summers secured a comfortable win.

Vale Youth 4, Littleton U-13 0

LITTLETON defied their league position to give Vale a tough task.

It took the hosts 25 minutes to break through when Chris Aston scored and their efforts to find a second continued well into the second period when Jimmy Phelps turned sharply in the box to double the lead.

Brett Danby and Robbie Wilhottie also found the net late on to complete the scoring.

Evesham Utd U-13 1,

Newtown Spts 1

A LATE leveller after a goalmouth scramble denied Evesham a victory against their title chasing visitors.

United spurned a couple of early chances and they were then indebted to the agility of keeper Jake Meredith to keep out a lively Newtown outfit.

Kevin Miles then gave Evesham a deserved lead after the break but, despite some stout defensive work, Sports snatched a saver to thwart the home side's hopes of victory.

Norton Rgrs U-13 1, Peopleton 0

Martley Spurs 0, Norton Rgrs U-13 7

EIGHT goals in two outings helped Norton stay at the top of the table but it wasn't as easy as the scoring would suggest.

Norton had to settle for a single goal success against Peopleton last Thursday when a rare piece of skill from Ashley Knight finally unlocked the visiting defence just before the break.

Rangers had a scare when their opponents were awarded a penalty but the ball as lashed over the crossbar.

Matthew Williams was named player of the match and he found the net in Sunday's 7-0 thrashing of Martley Spurs.

Many chances had been missed in the first half but Norton took a two-goal interval cushion after goals from Shane Turley and Tristan Buckley.

A change of strikers helped Norton's cause after the break when Ashley Wilkes bagged a treble. Dan Cotterill was on hand to fire in a seventh on a miserable afternoon when defender Dale Attwood was voted top player.