NEWTOWN Colts battled bravely against their taller, stronger opponents in this Mercian Festival League game.

LEIGH AND BRANSFORD BADGERS ALBION U9s 2, NEWTOWN COLTS U9s 0

Ben Jackson went close early on with a shot which Badgers' goalkeeper produced a fine save. Badgers applied some pressure and they broke the deadlock when Bradley Taylor fired home giving Colts' goalkeeper no chance.

The second-half saw Newtown on top. Anthony Eyles thought that he had scored on his birthday only for the referee to disallow it for an earlier infringement. Ben Finch had a powerful shot go narrowly wide and Alex Doyle also went close for the Colts.

Badgers though doubled their lead when James Stacey nipped-in to side-foot home and Colts could have gone further behind but for some superb defending by Max Middlebrook.

Newtown Colts are sponsored by A J Taylor.