Junior Soccer Scene ...

WELLAND 2, DROITWICH EAGES 3

Events then took a dramatic turn when Droitwich Eagles' Nick Cattel fell badly as he crossed the ball - apparently breaking his ankle. A 999 call was made and within minutes the Air Ambulance appeared high above, circling the pitch. The game was suspended and players cleared to a safe distance as the helicopter touched down just outside the penalty area. Twenty minutes later the paramedics and their injured Eagle took to the sky, heading for Worcester hospital and the game was re-started.

Welland, however appeared to be grounded, unable to pick up where they left off, their momentum completely gone.

Droitwich seemed to sense this and their game really took off, despite a string of fine saves from Nick Garth, Droitwich overran the opposing defence, P Brown netting a hat trick in the space of 15 minutes.

This was a huge blow to Welland who struggled to find their first half rhythm but still managed to pull one back - a Gareth Witts penalty making it 2-3 but it simply wasn't enough as the referee's whistle signalled a late end to a remarkable afternoon.

Welland Man of the Match was Nick Garth.

MEADOW PARK 1, MALVERN WANDERERS 8

WANDERERS travelled to Bromsgrove for this Stourport League Cup first round match.

They soon took control of the match when Neil Watts collected a cross and turned the defender one way then other before striking the ball past the keeper wit his left foot. Wanderers now moved up a gear dominating every part of the pitch. Jamie Thomas scored the next four goals rounding the keeper twice, a lob and finally a right footed shot. His fantastic form was highlighted when he took on a defender and used a clever flick to get past him and cross the ball into the danger area.

The second half started with Meadow Park on the attack and using the strong wind to their advantage. One of these attacks resulted in a defensive error and the ball trickled over the line 1-5. Normal service was soon restored when Joel Morris hit a powerful shot in to the roof of the net. Jamie Thomas got his fifth goal and the team's seventh. All the team now wanted to score but the final goal went to Smith after a long run and a 20 yard shot hit the top of the net.

Man of the match was Jamie Thomas.

PENCROFT COLTS 1, WELLAND JUNIORS 5

IN a fixture that always seems to produce a closely fought match - last season's meetings all being Welland victories by the smallest of margins - history initially seemed destined to repeat itself as a quick, skillful Pencroft attack line lay an early siege to a Welland back four missing three key defenders in this Mercian Elgar Under 16's League game.

Welland's newest recruit Timmy Lewis had the best chances of the first 20 minutes, as he saw both his shot, followed later by a 15 yard header, fall safely into the hands of the superb Pencroft keeper. However, the final ten minutes of the half saw four goals - three by Welland's in-from striker Tim Saunder, soon chalking his 14th goal of the campaign, and a well taken strike by Pencroft. For Saunder's second goal, credit must go to Greg Salmon for instinctively flicking the ball onto Saunder, who headed over the keeper, into the top corner of the net.

The second half went to the form-book, mainly thanks to some fantastic keeping from Welland's Man of the Match Will Eccleston, who turned over a 25 yard shot destined for the top corner, as well as a string of point blank saves. A goal from Welland's makeshift full back Mark Hill made it four, before Will Radnor stepped up for a free kick. Urged by the crowd to shoot, Radnor blasted a beauty from 40yards over the keeper's head in to the roof of the net. As ever, Mike Oakes' hard work and determination in the centre of midfield was instrumental in the victory.

Welland face Heenans next Sunday in a game that effectively could decide the championship. The only place to see it is at the Hill Centre, Upton at 2.30pm.

MARTLEY SPURS 1, MALVERN WANDERERS 1

DUE to the weather this Mercian Elgar Under 13's fixture had been rearranged as a switch round of venue and was the first ever meeting of these two teams.

Both sides pressed into attack at every opportunity and the first half was good end to end play with goal line clearances and missed chances from both sides.

The second half saw Malvern fielding a slightly rearranged format in defence, which had better control of the Martley breakaway attacks. James White along with Scott Butler in Malvern's attack looked more and more dangerous as the game progressed but just couldn't convert their efforts in to goals.

However in the 21st minute of the second half Martley managed to break the Malvern defence to score a well taken goal. Malvern increased their efforts with Bruce Rogers and Jon Mealing working like human dynamos in midfield. The reward came in the 30th minute when Malvern were awarded a penalty for hand ball in the area. Scott Butler coolly stepped up to hammer the ball into the net for the well deserved equaliser.

Malvern pressed forward to try and find the winning goal. Not all the action however was in Martley's half of the field and but for the continuing excellent performance of Man of the Match, Luke Arnold in Malvern's goal they would have been behind again. In the second minute of injury time Malvern were awarded a free kick on the edge of Martley's penalty area but with captain Luke Carter just skimming the top of the home side's cross bar honours were even and the two sides shared a well deserved point apiece.

DROITWICH SPA TIGERS 2, NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS 0

JUNIORS took their 100% record to Droitwich for this Mercian Elgar Under 10's Junior league game and lost it in bizarre fashion by scoring two own goals.

Juniors started really well controlling the game with good passing movements between Arron Almond, Craig Preece, Richard Keers and Jamie Tummey. The Droitwich keeper made some good saves but then things went wrong with Droitwich going 2-0 up from two own goals.

In the second half Newtown again started the stronger team with the Droitwich keeper again making more fine saves. Slowly Droitwich came into the game and could have added to the score but for some fine defending from Max Sharpe and Jack Kyte.

Newtown Sports Juniors are sponsored by S J Prosser & Son.

M C L CLAINES 0, MALVERN WANDERERS 1

THIS Mercian Elgar Under 9's League match began in driving rain.

Malvern took some time to adapt to the conditions and only good defending from Natalie Chadney and excellent tackling from Josh Ball kept the visitors in the match. Eventually Bob Mackichan's influence in attack began to tell and Douglas Howie's non-stop running started to pose a threat to the home team.

Half time saw the introduction of birthday boy Adam Mayo for Wanderers. Malvern continued to press and twice the post denied Alex Wren a goal. The deadlock between these two evenly matched teams was finally broken when a run on the right wing by Josh Asquith led to a free kick on the edge of the box, which he drove past the keeper.

Malvern kept their concentration and some good saves from goalie Ben Wheeler ensured that he kept another clean sheet.

Thanks go to the team's sponsors P & S Tools.

WORCESTER RANGERS 3, NEWTOWN BOYS 2

ON a wet, soggy pitch Worcester survived a second half revival by Newtown to turn out worthy winners in what was eventually an evenly fought match.

It was obvious from the start of this Mercian Elgar Under 9's match that this would be Newtown's hardest test to date. Worcester with a solid defence based around Meadows, a robust attitude to play and hard running up front by Dunne soon found holes in Newtown's makeshift but hard working defence. Good work by McDonald pinned Newtown back and from a corner a shot looped into the back of the net. Newtown pressed forward eager to equalise but were caught on the break by Hodgkiss and Dunne and were facing a 2-0 defeat as they went into the second half.

As the cold rain lashed down Newtown faced a huge test of character which was almost immediately made bigger by a rebound from a strong clearance that put Newtown three goals down and looking well beaten. The Newtown team responded with a great team effort. Cordell confident and competitive, J Ferguson tackling and supportive, Roscombe, Wickets and D Loader attacking and defending by turn took pressure from the beleaguered defence of E Ferguson, Hill and keeper Hunt; cut down Worcester's space and alternatives and gave L Loader room to display his undoubted talent. It was his direct running, self belief and finishing that gave him two fine goals, Newtown's Man of the Match and Newtown a chance to draw if not win the game. A late foul on J Ferguson as Malvern pressured the Worcester goal gave Newtown a chance to equalise but the free kick and subsequent series of corners could not breach Worcester's defence and allowed Wilson in nets to prove his worth to the Worcester team as the held on for the three points.

Man of the Match for Worcester was O Meadows and Man of the Match for Newtown was L Loader.