12/12/03 - Junior Soccer Scene ...

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U15s 2, EVESHAM UNITED U15s 1

The visitors began much the stronger, attacking the Wanderer's defence of Matt Lakey, Matt Bayer and Scott Roberts and they were rewarded minutes into the game as S Bradley netted for United.

Wanderers now picked up the pace and the midfield of Tom White, Bruce Rogers, Tom Chadney and Luke Jones were now creating chances for the front three of Zach Blood, Luke Arnold and Shaun Carrey. It was Shaun Carrey who got the equaliser when his pacy right wing run was finished by an excellent strike from 18 yards out. Goalscorer then came provider as Shaun's pin point centre picked out Zach Blood, who rose up and headed home clinically at the far post.

The visitors continued to press but on more than two or three occasions were thwarted by excellent goalkeeping by the agile Ashley Bennett.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U14s 4,

BROMYARD TOWN JUNIORS U14s 3

WANDERERS eased their way through this quarter-final of the Wayne Phillpotts Memorial Shield competition.

Bromyard started aggressively and took the lead after ten minutes through their talented forward Luke Almond.

Wanderers replied almost immediately when Ryan Mansbridge beat a couple of defenders and passed to Max White who smashed the ball into the roof of the net. The same combination gave the home team the lead just before the interval but casual defending immediately gave Bromyard an equaliser, Almond again on target.

In the second half Wanderers were well on top. Max White was pushed off the ball in the penalty area with only the goalie to beat and converted the spot kick to claim his hat-trick. Ryan Mansbridge then scored to give his team a two goal lead. But Bromyard were not finished and a fine break out gave Luke Almond his third goal. Mat Hopkinson struck a fine shot for a goal that was disallowed and there were no more problems for Wanderers at the end of an exciting cup game.

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

LITTLETON JUNIORS U13s 2,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U13s 3

NEWTOWN travelled to Littleton for this second round cup match and for the first 30 minutes came under heavy pressure from the league's newcomers, who played some excellent attacking football.

It was Littleton who opened the scoring after 20 minutes when the ball was played into the penalty box and their striker neatly finished. Chris Spicer in goal made a number of good saves and other chances were squandered before Newtown gradually got themselves back into the game when Craig Preece and Josh Butler tested the Littleton keeper shortly before half time.

The second half began and again it was Littleton who applied the pressure and they soon went 2-0 up. Spicer denied a third for Littleton when he saved bravely at the feet of the oncoming striker. The introduction of Niall Phillips and a quick reshuffle with Preece dropping into midfield and Lee Mason going up front worked for Newtown who now looked likely to pull a goal back. With ten minutes remaining Butler was put through and he calmly slotted the ball past the oncoming keeper. Newtown now looked to have more energy and minutes later grabbed the equaliser when Butler again was put through to finish in style. With Littleton on the back foot Newtown could have scored two more before Butler grabbed a dramatic last minute winner to put Juniors into the semi-final.

Newtown are sponsored by Wells Joinery.

LYPPARD REALITY 0,

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U13S 5

IN their final game of the year Newtown Sports Colts travelled to the Cinderella ground to play Lyppard Reality in the quarter-finals of the Mercian League Cup.

On a lovely flat, if tacky, surface, the Colts soon took the game to Lyppard, forcing some early pressure. Several half-chances fell the Colts way before Allison fired them into an early lead, which he created himself. Hale always looked threatening on the left for the Colts and appeared to have increased the lead when his shot crashed down from the cross-bar before the keeper grabbed the ball. Hale was again thwarted by the bar with another terrific shot. Edwards, Jaye and Caffull played useful cameo roles as the Colts looked to add to their tally. Indeed first Twinberrow, then Buckle added two good goals before half-time.

In the second-half, Powell entered the game for the Colts who enjoyed some more good possession. Time after time, the Colts played some good football but just lacked the final ball. Roskams, Elmes and Scullion were rarely troubled, but when they were, they stood up to the test well, which meant Johnson in goal only had a couple of saves to make. Buckle added to the score after Hale's attempt was parried by the keeper, and Powell rounded of the scoring with a sweetly struck shot following good work by Jaye.

A solid performance by the Colts put them in yet another semi-final where its very short odds that they will meet Newtown Sports Juniors.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U12S 4,

HADLEY RANGERS 1

WANDERERS came out on top in this Mercian League U12s Cup match after a stunning first half display and a hat-trick smash and grab from Dougie Howie.

Wanderers were set on defeating Hadley, after losing their first competitive game to the visitors only a few weeks ago in the league, and they made their mark very early in the game when Josh Asquith volleyed home from a Howie cross. This goal established the momentum of the game as Wanderers tackled ferociously in midfield with Alex Wren and Josh Ball at their best. The second goal came from a move started down the right by Niall Johnson and Josh Asquith that put Howie through for the first of three superbly taken goals. His second and third soon followed as Wanderers domination of the half was completed.

In the second half it came as little surprise when Hadley pushed themselves back into the game. Playing with the slope they began to apply pressure on the Wanderers defence but Tom Banks superbly marshalled his defensive line and Matt Downes, Chris Webb and Alex Bakanothosis all performed heroically to keep Hadley at bay. However their pressure eventually bore fruit, and as one of the highest scoring teams in the league, their well taken goal gave them a second wind as they pushed forward in search of another goal.

It was at this stage that Wanderers really came into their own. Defence started in the middle of the park as Jack Bottomley and Niall Johnson pounced on any loose ball, Wren and Ball were tigerish in breaking down play and Asquith, playing as a link between midfield and attack kept on running the ball forward to keep Hadley on the back foot. In the end Wanderers saw off any further challenge and can take away the satisfaction of a superb team performance that puts them into the semi-finals.

BROMYARD U12 GIRLS 1,

BROADWAY UNITED GIRLS 2

BROMYARD U12 girls' unbeaten home record came to a disappointing end in their Mercian League Cup quarter-final tie against Broadway United.

With Bromyard sitting higher in the league than their opponents and having come back from behind to earn a credible draw in the corresponding away league fixture earlier this season Bromyard, with home advantage, were hopeful of making progress to the semi-final stage of the cup.

Indeed Bromyard began the match very brightly and for the first ten minutes laid siege to the Broadway goal, forcing numerous corners. Eventually Town's pressure paid dividends and they took the lead midway through the first half. It needed however, a cracking goal from captain Clare Almond, who picked the ball up midway into the opponent's half, surged forward and hit an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.

Bromyard continued to look threatening and nearly increased their lead when a flick from Hattie Huckle skimmed the crossbar.

Broadway then, against the run of play and with their first attack, equalised from a long range shot that keeper Winnie Cowley could only watch go in off the post.

In the second half Bromyard faded and Broadway came much more into the match with their well-organised defence, in particular, assured and their attack looking menacing on the breakaway.

Although there were half chances, stalemate was the order of the second half and both sides made substitutions in an effort to try and break the deadlock. Then with just two minutes to go and extra time seemingly inevitable, Broadway took the lead through a swift counter attack.

Bromyard gave it all they had for the final minutes but were unable to equalise and were left to rue being unable to press home their superiority early in the first half.

WORCESTER RANGERS U11S 3,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U11S 3

NEWTOWN and Worcester Rangers entertained the crowd in this six-goal thriller and both sides will have to meet again to see who goes through to the semi-final.

It was Rangers who made the brightest start and a long range effort bounced on top of the bar. Newtown never really got going into a fierce wind giving the ball away too often. It came as no surprise when Worcester took the lead, a cross from the right was taken by King and he rolled the ball home. A shake up of the midfield and attack had the desired effect for Newtown. They created chances of their own that resulted in two goals in two minutes, Matt Turner ended his barren spell with two excellent goals, the first when he followed up his own shot and the second a fine burst through the middle.

The second half saw Newtown dominating but guilty over elaborate play. They were punished when King was left alone in the box and he slotted home the equaliser. Newtown immediately went up field and scored when Bannister took Watling's pass in his stride and lashed home. Newtown now wasted good possession and Rangers equalised when slack marking again let Mike Lee head home unchallenged. Newtown went for the winner but Watling saw a shot come back off the post and Wren's free kick clipped the crossbar. Extra time failed to produce a winner so both teams will have to meet again.

OLDBURY PARK TIGERS U9S 1

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U9S 3

THE top two sides faced each other in the second round of the George Goode Memorial Trophy and produced a classic tie.

Close the opposition down in midfield, keep possession, pass and move was the order of the day for both sides and it produced a spectacle for the crowd.The Wanderers probably had the best of the opening five minutes but were denied by the wood work and the outstanding goalkeeping of the Tigers' keeper Ross Williams. The game was played mainly in midfield with both sides battling for possession and the standard of tackling was excellent. The Tigers were tenacious and determined and at half time, extra time or a replay seemed on the cards as very little separated the two sides.

The game restarted with the Tigers applying some pressure on the Malvern defence. Then a goalmouth clearance by Ryan Scullion was fed out to the left where Ali Hunt raced up the pitch and cracked home from 15 yards. Almost immediately the Tigers fought back and after some casual marking, Tigers' striker James Day broke through and took his chance magnificently beating the advancing Daniel Blake with a superb rasping shot.

The Wanderers upped their tempo and after a goal mouth scramble Chris Jeffrey restored the lead, tapping in from close range. As the Tigers searched for their second and to stay in the game a scramble in the other end this time saw Ryan Scullion clearing it off the line to Tom Bottomley who found Chris Jeffrey wide on the left and his superb run was followed by an inch perfect chip into the top corner of the net for 3-1. With two minutes to go the tempo of the game continued with the Tigers never giving up.

A great game to watch and a real credit to both sides.

Wanderers' man of the match was Chris Jeffrey.