WANDERERS came out convincing winners at the end of this Mercian Festival League match but for a long time it was touch and go.

BROMYARD TOWN U14s 1,

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U14s 4

Although they had several opportunities in the first half only one goal was scored. A quick throw in by Mat Hopkinson to Luke Butler and a superb strike from outside the penalty area.

Bromyard fought back vigorously in the second half and looked very dangerous but it was Wanderers who claimed the goals. In a four minute period Ollie Mason scored twice, thanks to excellent passes from Luke Butler and Ryan Mansbridge. But Bromyard never gave up and several attacks were only kept at bay by the assured keeping of Lewis Hooper and great defensive work from Marc Heptinstall, Max White and Mat Hutchinson. They did get one back after a goal mouth mix up and were unlucky to see Ryan Mansbridge score a fine individual goal from a narrow angle at the other end.

Malvern Town Wanderers are sponsored by Pole Elm Garage, Callow End.

WELLAND JUNIORS U14s 11,

DROITWICH CHEETAHS U14s 1

A FURIOUS start by Cheetahs was rewarded with a goal by Simon Crowther who lobbed Welland's keeper.

This was a wake up call for Welland and Josh Brentnall upped the pace and was most effective down the wing with some great passes and crosses into the box. Finally Josh Brentnall's shot on goal was finished off by Arron Richards to put Welland 1-1.

Substitute Liam Paddock was brought on and literally turned the match around for Welland with his first touch of the ball. A stunningly accurate corner kick by Ashley Shouler to the edge of the box found Lima Paddocks' head and resulted in a great goat to put Welland on top. There was no looking back from this point and goals were also scored by Ben Roal (two), Ben Marks (two), Richard Phelps (four) and another by Liam Paddock.

Man of the match was Ben Marks.

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U13s 9,

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS 0

NEWTOWN Sports Colts hosted the local derby against Malvern Town Wanderers at Lower Howsell last Sunday.

From the kick-off, the Colts took the game to the Wanderers with Hale, Allison and Jaye providing plenty of energy in midfield. It wasn't long before the Colts opened the scoring when the ball fell to Twinberrow who had the simplest of tap-ins. The Wanderers responded but Roskams, Elmes and Scullion were always on hand to thwart any attacks. The Colts increased their lead when Twinberrow headed in a superbly struck corner from Edwards. A piece of individual skill by Hale followed by a long range shot produced a third goal for the Colts as they took full command of the game. Milward notched a fourth with a close range effort following another corner by Edwards.

In the second-half, Caffull, Powell and Crane came on for the Colts who looked for more goals. Playing some good football in patches, the Colts opened up the Wanderers defence time after time, with Buckle and Twinberrow leading the line. In deed, Johnson in the Colts goal didn't have a shot to save as the Wanderers tried to find a consolation. With their superiority, the Colts added another five goals through Twinberrow (two), Allison (two) and Hale. This was another satisfactory display by the Colts against a spirited Wanderers team.

BROMYARD TOWN GIRLS U12S 3,

BROADWAY UNITED GIRLS U12S 0

BROMYARD U12 Girls returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory in their Mercian League encounter with Broadway United.

Bromyard who had been knocked out of the cup by Broadway were keen to prove a point and soon put the visitors under pressure, forcing several corners.

Bromyard were rewarded for their commitment and enterprise when 10 minutes into the first half, back in form attacking midfielder Tasha Merris wrong-footed a defender and the coolly shot past the keeper. Bromyard continued to press forward and after seeing one effort narrowly go over the bar increased their lead from a corner kick. As the ball came in, Mickie James, venturing up from the back, made a run to the near post and first time hit the ball past the Broadway keeper, who remained rooted to the spot.

Although they continued to dominate affairs, mainly due to some good saves from Broadway's keeper, Bromyard were unable to increase their lead before half time.

During the interval Bromyard made a couple of changes including putting their first half defensive star Charlie Lloyd into goal. This together with the other changes meant Bromyard initially lost their rhythm as the half got underway.

Nevertheless, midway through the second half normal service was resumed when substitute Rachel Newman remained calm to beat the Broadway keeper with a right foot shot from near the penalty spot. Bromyard then had several half chances to emphasize their superiority.

However at the death it needed two good saves from stand in keeper Charlie Lloyd to prevent the visitors from grabbing a consolation goal.

Bromyard after a number of disappointing results recently should take heart from this win as they look to step up their challenge on the top four teams

DROITWICH SPA COBRAS U12s 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U12S 4

THIS game started with Newtown Sports enjoying the majority of the possession, and but for some fine goalkeeping, by the Droitwich keeper, the away team could have been two or three goals up after ten minutes.

But almost twenty minutes had gone before Newtown took the lead with a well taken goal by Chris DeBonis, after an excellent cross from Dan Hunt.

That goal spurred the away team on, and Louis Loader made it 2 -0 with a crisp 20 yard shot that the keeper was unable to reach. Droitwich were reduced to the occasional break, and just before half time could have pulled one back but for a timely intervention from Ben Wicket.

Directly after the break Newtown went three up with a super goal from Joe Bament who went round three defenders before slotting the ball home. The game became more even, with a congested midfield, and neither team in control. After 15 minutes a break by the home side forced Newtown into a defensive lapse to pull one back, Sports then changed up a gear and went back on the offensive with Oscar Hooper scoring a snap header after a well executed cross from the bye line.

Newtown Sports are sponsored by P W Jones, of Hillbury Coaches, Burleigh Gate, Hereford.

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U11S 3,

OLDBURY TIGERS 3

NEWTOWN and Oldbury fought out an entertaining three all draw and this point dropped makes the league table very interesting.

Newtown got off to a flying start when Matthew Wren fired home a free kick from the edge of the box. Bannister almost made it two from a corner but his header was blocked on the line. The remainder of the half saw almost constant Oldbury pressure, Newtown's defence held firm and Loader produced two excellent saves.

The second half was seconds old when Le Gros was left all alone in the Newtown half and he guided his shot into the bottom corner. Newtown responded instantly when for the first time in the match they passed the ball upfield and Bannister rifled into an empty net. With both sides now attacking play became stretched Oldbury grabbed an equaliser as Newtown failed to mark O'Neil at a corner and thumped the ball home. With five minutes remaining Newtown again went in front with Wren netting from an acute angle following a scramble. Oldbury were not to be denied a point with O'Neil waltzing through non existent tackle to score the equaliser. On reflection a point apiece was a fair result.