UNDEFEATED in the league, Malvern Town travelled to Worcester Rangers for the final match of the season knowing that a win would ensure that they were champions of the Mercian Festival League U16s division two.

MALVERN TOWN U16s 7, WORCESTER RANGERS U16s 0

The first-half started with Malvern quickly taking the initiative and within three minutes a corner from Joe Blain found Chris Wynne's head and Malvern were 1-0 up. Worcester Rangers fought back but five minutes later Paul Jordan scored Malvern's second.

Worcester Rangers battled hard but Malvern had the upper hand with Paul Jordan and Josh Brentnall both shooting wide and despite a fine run Ryan Mansbridge, he was unable to find the back of the net leaving the half-time score 2-0 to Malvern.

The second-half started with Ashley Brown hitting the post only two minutes into the half and two minutes later a mix-up in the Worcester Rangers goal lead to Malvern increasing their lead. A Rangers free-kick on six minutes just went wide and Malvern kept the pressure up until on 15 minutes Ryan Mansbridge headed home for Malvern. In the next 15 minutes Ashley Brown shot just wide and Ryan Mansbridge hit the post but it was Ollie Mason who scored Malvern's fifth goal. The last ten minutes saw Ryan Mansbridge score and then complete his hat-trick in the last minute. A fine defensive display made the final score 7-0 and Malvern Town champions.

Malvern Town U16s are sponsored by Gas Appliance Showrooms Ltd of Malvern.

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U15S 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U15S 2

IN another dramatic derby encounter, the Juniors pipped the Colts in the last seconds of a pulsating game.

Yet again the Colts were without four regulars, but a determined team took to the field. However, it was the Juniors who took the lead minutes into the game. A long throw from Thompson eluded everyone, including stand-in keeper Scullion, but Gittins was quickest to react when the ball rebounded off the post. The Colts responded and the midfield of Edwards, Hale, Jaye, Caffull and Newell battled hard to feed Budd and Crane upfront. The Colts were unlucky not equalise when the move-of-the-half found Newell whose shot ricocheted off the crossbar.

In the second-half, Buckle came on for the Colts as the game opened up. Most was played in the Colts' half who were now against the breeze, but Roskams, Elmes and Morse defended stoutly. The Colts always threatened on the counter attack and midway through the half they drew level. Hale broke clear in midfield and played a terrific through ball to Crane who slotted the ball past Spicer. With the seconds ticking down, it looked as the game would end in a draw, but the Colts were put under pressure from another Thomspon long-throw and Lean got the header to give the Juniors the points.

OLDBURY PARK TIGERS U13S 2,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U13S 3

WITH a hard, bumpy pitch and a howling cross wind free-flowing football was going to be difficult but the Juniors survived a late Oldbury rally to secure the points. Juniors opened the stronger and had Oldbury defending stoutly. It took 20 minutes for Juniors to unlock the defence and fortuitously the ball hit Turner from a clearance and found the back of the net. It was two when Rock hit a swerving shot into the bottom corner.

The second-half saw Juniors having to defend as Oldbury made the most of the conditions. Kyte and Parker, aided by Roskams, dealt with the aerial bombardment. Having weathered the storm Juniors still posed a threat and the Oldbury keeper had to make several one-on-one saves but was powerless when an inswinging corner was met perfectly by Bannister to make it three. Oldbury threw caution to the wind and had great chances to reduce the deficit, Freeman was called upon to make three tremendous saves but was undone by two long range efforts that caught on the wind and sailed into the top corner. Again Freeman made a brave save, injuring himself in the process forcing a change of keeper. Juniors held on for the remaining five minutes to secure the points.

Man-of-the-match was Christopher Freeman.

WORCESTER RAIDERS HAWKS U11S 1,

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS COLTS U11S 2

THIS was a well-deserved away win for a hard-working Malvern Town Wanderers Colts side.

Their attacks began from the whistle with Kieran Smith, Josh Seabourne and Nathan Bass working well, passing the play between them but having shots at goal saved. Nothing could stop Reece King's first goal though which was a finely placed chip over the goalie's head after a great run. Bass hit the woodwork following a clear run to goal and Harry Cain worked hard at keeping the play in the Wanderers half, but at half-time the visitors were still only one goal up. Myles Cunningham had been busy in defence and Pete Shepherd's good saves were also needed.

In the second-half there was much more strong play with the Worcester side producing some attacking breakthroughs, despite Max Howie's usual solid responses and Stan Mason and Josh Lloyd being solid in pursuit. An equaliser came through but Reece King followed another good run with a clean goal, putting Malvern ahead. The rest of the game was a tense affair, but the lead was maintained for Malvern.

LEIGH & BRANSFORD BADGERS WANDERERS U9S 1, MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS 2

PLAYERS and supporters braved freezing winds in this exciting and well-played game, which neither side deserved to lose.

Leigh took an early command of the game, with Lewis Smallman hitting a low shot, which keeper George Perrett just pushed around the post. Samuel Edmondson tried a shot from distance, but was just out of range. Malvern struggled to deal with the size and strength of Leigh's Luke Simpson and Lewis Smallman, but their marking improved, and they got back into the game. A great run from Aaron Boden for Malvern put Courtney Bray through, and he fired the ball in from the right, to score the first goal. However, Malvern were still celebrating, when a defensive error gave Simpson a golden opportunity. Perrett could not hold onto the ball, and Simpson cleared up the rebound to level the scores. Leigh piled on the pressure, with a series of corners and shots on target. Edmonson beat three Malvern players in a fine run, only to see his shot go wide. Solid defending from Jake Churchill and Nick Smith kept Malvern's hopes alive. Perrett saved from Simpson in a great break, then Leigh's keeper Kyle Hobday made a great save from Boden at the other end.

In the final minutes, after a series of corners for Leigh, Adam Page played a superb ball through to Bray, who dribbled past the last defender, and belted his shot past Hobday, to make it 2-1 to Malvern.