IN awful weather conditions Town played some excellent football in this Stourport U 16's league match to overcome a brave Brierley Hill side who never gave up despite being outclassed.

MALVERN TOWN 12, BRIERLEY HILL COLTS 2

The game was effectively over by half time with Town leading 5-1 with a hat trick for Lee Hooper and one each for Will Murtagh and Alex Smith. Smith's goal was a beautiful lob shot from 20 yards out.

In the second half Hooper scored three more before he made way for Adam Derrington as sub who scored with a spectacular drive with is first touch. Hardworking Dale Humphries deservedly grabbed two and TT Taylor drove in a vicious shot from ten yards. For Town Andy Shaw and Rob Merrick worked non-stop through out and deserved goals for their efforts but couldn't get on the score sheet. Brierley scored with a header from Ben Perry and a free kick from Luke Hobbs.

HALESOWEN TOWN 1, MALVERN WANDERERS 2

WANDERERS had to work very hard to maintain their unbeaten run in this Stourport & District League Under 15's match.

They had to wait until two minutes before half time for the opening goal after some excellent work in the penalty area from Joel Morris opened up the goal for Rob Cullen to drive the ball home with his right foot.

Jamie Thomas came on for Lee Dawe at half time. Wanderers still struggled to control the game, the weather was not helping for the second week in a row. Their midfield of David Bundred, Paul Edwards and Smith, had their work cut out with Smith putting in extra effort to control the centre of the park. Halesowen had other ideas and moved the ball quickly from defence into attack. Wanderers failed to clear one of these attacks and the ball rebounded off a Wanderers defender in to the path of a Halesowen striker, who turned and slotted the ball past the diving Mark Hooper. 1-1.

Wanderers now missed a dozen chances, and lived dangerously in defence, with the midfield pushing up and forgetting to leave a holding player in front of the defence. All was not lost with only five minutes to go Jamie Thomas ran onto a long ball and hammered it home through the keeper's legs.

Man of the Match for Wanderers was Smith.

NEWTOWN SPORTS BOYS 3, NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS 1

THIS was another exciting game in the Mercian Elgar U11's Junior League between the two Newtown sides but this time the Boys made no mistakes in front of goal.

Michael Reeves the Juniors goalkeeper again had an excellent game but was unable to prevent Jamie Ferguson scoring his first two goals for the Boys team while Ben Hardy followed in on a rebound from a Ricky Buckland shot to drive home the third goal. Both Kurt Doyle and Lloyd Merrick fought for every ball in the Juniors defence and did well to keep the score down while Jack Philpot and Jamie Harvey made some neat passing moves in the midfield. The Boys team tried to extend their lead but found themselves with too many players forward and were punished by a great individual effort from Chris Griffiths to put the Juniors back in the game.

Overall a steady performance from the Boys team against an improving Juniors side with good displays from Matt Hopkinson, Tom Morris and Joshua Todd.

MALVERN WANDERERS 1, NEWTOWN SPORTS BOYS 3

THE first clash between these local sides was as expected a hard fought game.

Both teams started well but Newtown's Phillip Harris produced two stunning first half strikes from the edge of the box to put the Boys ahead. Wanderers played their part with some great defending from Oliver Mason and superb passing moves from Paul Jordan and Mark Heptinstall and were unfortunate not to produce a goal themselves.

The second half saw Newtown over committing themselves when going forward and were nearly punished but for some great defending from Lee Hammond and Ben Hardy who somehow prevented a certain goal from only two yards out. The resulting corner was converted by Oliver Mason who managed to steer the ball through a crowded goal mouth into the Newtown goal to put Wanderers back into the game. Newtown kept their heads though and re-established their two goal lead through Jamie Ferguson and were unfortunate not to increase this with efforts from Mark Holbrow and Peter Boardman.

Overall this was a good performance from both teams.