Junior Football ...

MALVERN TOWN 14, COUNTY SPORTS 0

Town got off to a good start and scored after two minutes through Matt Cooke. By 20 minutes they were 7-0 up with further goals from Cooke, Lee Hooper (3), Phil O'Brien and Mark Amott. A few minutes later Alex Smith got on the score sheet and then Cooke got his hat-trick. After that County Sports defended well for the rest of the half but once again they were found wanting for the first 25 minutes of the second half.

Hooper scored another hat-trick, there was an own goal and Cooke grabbed his fourth. Final score 14-0.

NEWTOWN SPORTS BOYS 5, WORCESTER ROCKETS 0

NEWTOWN opened the scoring in this Mercian Elgar Under 15's League match on eight minutes following a Tom Bethell corner when Rob Evans lashed the ball home from close range.

Despite being the more dominant Newtown struggled to break down a resolute Worcester rear guard. Newtown's defence were in fine form themselves with Pete Boyle and Kevin Downes doing some sterling work. Half time 1-0.

The second half saw Tom Bethell double the lead in the first minute with a fine shot and the same player scored the third with another excellent strike. The fourth goal was scored by Matt Pierson volleying an Andy Fletcher corner. The fifth goal was similar with James Badham heading home from another corner. Newtown could have made it six but Tom Bethell missed from the penalty spot.

Man of the Match was jointly Tom Bethell and Peter Boyle.

EVESHAM UNITED 1, WELLAND 3

EVESHAM'S management team worked long and hard to make this pitch playable for this Mercian Elgar Under 14's Junior League fixture and succeeded - only just!

The muddy playing surface was not conducive to any kind of passing game and with Welland struggling to find any early rhythm, Evesham's sensible long ball tactic paid off with a long range shot just beating the Welland keeper to give the home side an early lead. Slowly, Welland came to terms with the poor conditions and with Holland causing mayhem down the right ad some intelligent work from Griffiths up front their reward came in the form of two goals form Gareth Witts - the second a superb pass inside from Holland finished with an exquisite Witts 25 yard power drive that gave the Evesham keeper no chance.

The second half saw Welland assume control - with Lacey in charge at the back, Wade and Taylor commanding in the middle and substitute Streather's running causing problems up front. Welland's superiority told as Streather's shot from the edge of the box found the net to make it 1-3. With Holland leaving the field injured, Evesham raised their game but substitute Hynds filled the gap well and Welland went on to take all three points.

Welland Man of the Match was Adam Lacey.

PERSHORE TOWN 1,

NEWTOWN SPORTS 1

NEWTOWN kept their unbeaten record intact with a hard fought draw against a very good Pershore United in this Mercian Elgar Under 14's Junior League fixture.

Newtown were forced to play a number of players with heavy colds and slight injuries. Both defences were on top in the first half with Rob Tyler clearing off the line. Adam Curtis went close when his first time shot just went wide and strike partner Will Clee had a couple of half chances. Half time 0-0.

The second half started the same with Newtown defence of Rob Tyler, Chris Hopwood, Jamie Plant and Ed Gallagher in commanding form. Pershore took the lead on 55 minutes. Newtown lost the skilful Matt Ball who was suffering with a heavy cold. Newtown pinned Pershore into their own half for the last 15 minutes but could not find a way through the Pershore rearguard until on 59 minutes top scorer Adam Curtis won a fifty-fifty ball with the keeper to roll the ball into an empty net.

Man of the Match was the whole of the team for their 100% commitment from start to finish.

Next match home Evesham United, players meet 1.30pm at Lower Howsell Road. Don't forget raffle books!

MALVERN WANDERERS 3, WELLAND JUNIORS 1

PREVIOUS meetings of these two Mercian Elgar Under 13's Junior League sides had provided plenty of goals.

This time the two sides were more evenly matched and it wasn't until the 26th minute of the first half that the deadlock was broken. Malvern's James Lyons battled his way through the visitor's defence and his pass found Scott Butler who slotted his shot back across goal to open the scoring.

The second half saw Malvern exerting intense pressure on Welland's goal and in the fourth minute Scott Butler scored his second goal of the match from a rebound shot off the post by James Lyons. The Malvern pressure continued with Welland making occasional breaks which were constantly being controlled by the home defence of Chris Wilson, Dan Pickett, Luke Carter and Rowan Dakin. It was in fact Chris Wilson in the 15th minute who delivered the "killer blow". He collected the ball on the edge of the Welland area as it came out for yet another Malvern attack and coolly placed a hard looping drive into the far corner of the visitor's net. Soon after Malvern brought on Pascal Emmenegger into goal and released their usual keeper Luke Arnold, who had a commanding game, to go back into attack where he had spent most of last season. Welland continued to compete and in the 28th minute were rewarded when Mark Eaton squeezed in a rebound shot from a tight angle for a deserved consolation goal.

Man of the Match for Malvern this week is shared by the whole squad.

WELLAND JUNIORS 1,

MALVERN WANDERERS 1

ANOTHER entertaining Mercian Elgar Under 12s Junior League encounter which produced an exciting and tightly contested game.

Welland settled well, hungry for some competitive football following a month of cancelled fixtures. With both sides battling hard keepers R Purser and Martyn Smith were kept busy, each doing well for his team on the day, ensuring goals would be few and far between. Welland very nearly took the lead in the first half via Leccese who fired just wide, having broken free of the defence. Crosses from Richard Pitt also helped the home team to maintain the pressure and balance the attacking play from malvern, which was always fast and threatening.

It was Joel Redman for Wanderers that broke the deadlock with a fine shot, which left Welland stranded. Malvern then continued to dominate and a second goal seemed on the cards only to be denied by solid defending from Chris Yoxall, Sam Griffith and Huw Darcy. Characteristically Welland refused to give n and were rewarded with only minutes remaining, when Andrew Smith slotted home from close range.

The final minutes saw a frenzied game with both teams stretched and playing some tremendous football.

Welland Man of the Match was Oliver Smith.

Welland Under 12's are looking for Saturday morning friendly games. Please call Pete on (01684) 310582.

Training 10am this Saturday at The Glebe. For club details, fixtures and news visit Welland Juniors FC on www.i4site.co.uk (click on clubs).