NEWTOWN Sports Colts continued in their good run of form with a gritty performance against Droitwich Spa.

DROITWICH SPA PHOENIX U15S 1, NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS 3

With numerous players missing, the Colts started off with a new strike partnership of Budd and Elmes. However, it was Droitwich who settled first and took the lead when their striker battled past three Colts defenders to fire in a shot from the edge of the box.

Buckle, Jaye, Caffull, Hale and Newell found it tough going in midfield, but managed to exert some pressure on the Droitwich defence. Midway through the half, Elmes moved back into defence, Roskams into midfield, which allowed Hale to move up front. Despite an injury to keeper Johnson, the Colts then started to play better and a moment of inspiration changed the game. Jaye crossed an innocuous ball towards the edge of the box, which found its way to Budd, who volleyed the ball over the Droitwich keeper to equalise with a stunning goal. With the clock ticking down, Caffull then swung in a terrific corner which the goalkeeper could only parry and Roskams was on hand to fire home.

In the second-half, the Colts again had to re-jig their side with Scullion taking the gloves for the injured Johnson, and Crane coming on up front. But within moments of the restart, Crane forced his way through and finished neatly to increase the Colts lead. Droitwich tried to reduce the arrears, but despite more injuries, the Colts, often with only 10 players on the pitch, hung on for the victory.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS COLTS U11s 1, DROITWICH SPA STARS 1

THIS was a fast and fiery game as Malvern's attacking play in the first-half produced plenty of shots at goal.

Josh Lloyd fed forwards Myles Cunningham, Reece King, and Nathan Bass, who were all unlucky not to score with shots just the wrong side of the post or having them saved by the plucky Droitwich keeper. A well-placed pass from Reece King to Kieran Smith produced an opening goal for Wanderers. Solid defence from Max Howie, with sound keeping from Pete Shepherd, meant that Malvern went into half-time in the lead.

In the second-half, the home team seemed to lose some energy whilst the visitors rallied. Josh Seabourne, Brent Gibbs and Stan Mason kept their sights firmly on goal but they were just unable to finish their chances and Droitwich grabbed an equaliser from a strong run. Malvern kept up their efforts though and the gamed ended in a draw, which did not reflect Malvern's first-half dominance.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U9s 2, OLDBURY PARK TIGERS U9s 0

THIS was another competitive game with both sides showing much improvement.

Tigers started well, forcing a couple of corners, and allowing Tom Day the first shot on target, but Wanderers keeper George Perrett made a good save. Wanderers replied with some good build-up play from Aaron Boden, Josh Smith and Courtney Bray, but Tigers defended resolutely.

Day made a great break for Tigers, but his low shot clipped the post and Wanderers scrambled to clear the rebound. Boden made the most of this, and threaded a great diagonal ball through to Smith, who seemed certain to score, only for Tigers' keeper Ross Jones to close him down. Jones made another good save from Bray to keep the first half scoreless.

Dion Francis and Aaron Stratford came on for the Tigers in the second half, allowing Day to cause problems for the Wanderers defence by dropping back to midfield.

But it was Wanderers who scored first, when Boden's low shot bobbled over Jones' outstretched arm. Smith quickly followed up with a second, cleverly looping a shot over the keeper's head into the side of the net. Tigers kept battling, with Tal Baker-Phillips reading the ball well, and making the most of his height and strength to intercept.

Jack Elston and Joe Thomson made their presence felt, supplying the ball to Baker-Phillips and Day, but Nick Smith and Max Lobo, both back to their best in defence, did enough to keep the Tigers at bay.