MALVERN Town Wanderers visited Diglis on Sunday for this Mercian League match against Westbury Boys.

WESTBURY BOYS U15s 1, MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U15s 2

The first-half got off to a good start when on four minutes Lewis Hooper set up Luke Butler, returning from injury, for Wanderers' first goal. The teams were evenly matched for the rest of the half with James Lush going close and the Westbury keeper pulling off a good save following a Joe Blain free-kick.

The second-half started with Paul Jordan and Chris Wynne both being denied but on 57 minutes, a corner from Joe Blain was powered into the net by Matt Hopkinson. Wanderers kept the pressure up but on 77 minutes, quick Westbury reactions following a goalmouth scramble gave them a consolation goal and made the final score 1-2.

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U14S 2,

LITTLETON JUNIORS U14S 0

NEWTOWN Sports Colts turned in a gutsy performance with a depleted squad against last season's champions, Littleton.

Both teams found it difficult to play football on the firm, dry pitch; especially with so little space in midfield. Elmes, Scullion and Roskams defended manfully during an engaging first-half. Littleton hit the bar from a free-kick, whilst Crane lifted the ball over from an acute angle for the Colts.

Caffull, Allison, Jaye, Powell and Edwards all had to work hard in midfield. With half-time approaching, the Colts broke the deadlock when Powell, Allison and Crane played a neat interchange to leave Crane in some space to hit the perfect shot from the corner of the box, high into the net.

Littleton pressed for an equaliser in the second-half, but Johnson, in the Colts' goal, dealt with everything superbly. Baker and Crane always caused Littleton problems at the back and the Colts thought they grabbed a second when Crane finished well, but Baker was adjudged to be offside.

However, Powell settled the match when he finished off a goal-mouth scramble with five minutes to go as Colts battled hard for the win against a very good Littleton team.

HADLEY RANGERS 1,

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U13S 3

HAVING recently been knocked out of the cup by Hadley, Wanderers made a nervous start in the first ten minutes of this Mercian League game.

They went on to play an electrifying game and produced one of their best performances of the season in this top-of-the-league match.

The first goal started with a ball delivered by Asquith from the half-way line to Harwood waiting in the left-hand corner. He crossed it in front of goal for Howie to head it into the back of the net. Excitement continued with strong defending from Ball, Banks, Whittle and Hallmark. Loader was unlucky not to score, as was Asquith with fine shots on target. A free-kick five minutes from half-time was given ten yards from Hadley's goal. This set-piece was taken by Loader, who whipped the ball into the top left-hand corner.

Two minutes into the second-half, Asquith again placed an excellent through ball for Howie to slot into the net, giving Wanderers a strong lead. Bottomley came on as a sub and played well in defence, preventing a number of attacks developing. Wheeler also made some good saves from Hadley, who never gave up.

Two minutes from the end Hadley were awarded a penalty bringing the final score-line to 1-3 to Wanderers. The return home match is in three weeks time and will prove testing to both teams.

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U12S 6,

WELLAND U12S 1

NEWTOWN secured three more points with victory over a spirited Welland side.

The Juniors started well but found the Welland goalkeeper in fine form. He blocked several of Juniors' early efforts whilst the Juniors forwards wasted other good opportunities with some wayward shooting. It was the tricky Turner who got the first goal when sprinting clear of the defence, rounding the keeper and slotting home. This spurred on the Juniors and Watling latched onto a ball on the edge of the area and looped his shot over the keeper and into the net. Welland pulled a goal back with a deflected shot but Newtown quickly reasserted their dominance when Watling swooped to head home from a corner.

The second half saw many player changes but still the Juniors held the upper hand. Bannister found himself all alone in the area from a well-flighted free-kick and easily netted. Jac Crews capped a fine display with a neat finish inside the six-yard box and then Adam Loader scored his side's sixth when he nodded home following a corner.

Welland had a glorious chance to score a second but, with three attackers and only Freeman to beat, the Juniors keeper was able to block the effort.

Man of the match was Jac Crews.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U10S 0,

NEWTOWN SPORTS 3

THIS was a hard fought local derby which was more evenly matched than the final score-line suggests.

For most of the first half, strong attacking play from Newtown was held at bay by goalie Pete Shepherd and defenders Max Howie and Myles Cunningham, with only one goal finding the net just before half-time, and, Stan Mason and Brent Gibbs unlucky not to score from their well-paced play.

In the second half, Josh Seabourne kept the pressure up, with Brandon Hudson reliably defending and Joel Wright working effectively. But a messy second goal was soon followed by a well-taken third from Newtown's energetic up-front play. The home team never gave up though and produced some good passing football with a greatly reduced goal difference since the last time the two teams met.