MALVERN Vale Academy have been promoted after winning the Cheltenham League Division Four play-off final with Welland Reserves on penalties.

A tense game at Bishops Cleeve saw Vale record their fourth victory this season over their local rivals following a 1-1 draw and 6-5 sudden-death shoot-out win.

Vale started brightly but struggled to get their passing game going on a hard, bumpy surface while Welland looked to feed league top scorer Jay Harding.

Right-back Mike Buckland was first to test keeper Liam Gleeson from long range before winger Cal Hill could not capitalise on two good opportunities.

Welland took a controversial lead on 35 minutes when Si Haywood challenged keeper George Weaver to head in a free-kick.

Vale made changes as they chased the game and midfielder Andre Rodrigues' runs forward caused problems.

Toby Boswell's header was collected by Gleeson but the pressure eventually told when a Ben Goode corner was not cleared and substitute Anthony Cakebread levelled with five minutes left.

Goode fired home the first penalty before Les Brown did likewise against his former side.

Rodrigues, Matt Strangwood and Ash Griffiths all scored for Vale with Ollie Lewis, Harding and Haywood responding.

Cakebread was denied by Gleeson before Simon Barnett also saw Weaver save.

In sudden death, Vale's Mario Vieira and Welland's Craig Tommey were successful.

Gavin Hodgkins also scored for Vale before John Gullick's effort was pushed onto the bar by Weaver to secure promotion.