WELLAND Reserves took the derby honours with a 2-1 win over leaders Malvern Vale Firsts in Cheltenham League Division Three.

Vale won the penalty shoot-out in the Division Four play-off final in their last meeting.

The visitors had most possession in the first half on a wet Spitalfields pitch and created good chances.

Matt Strangwood's shot beat the keeper but held up on the pitch enough for a defender to track back and clear.

Top scorer Ash Griffiths miscued from just inside the area and Andre Rodrigues chipped the keeper with his attempt easily gathered.

Second-placed Welland struggled to cope with the pressure but last-ditch defending and keeper Adam Went saved them.

However, the pressure paid off for Vale as they scored on the break from a Welland corner.

Lewis Williams ran all the way from the back and was on hand to fire home the squared ball from 12 yards.

In the second half while Vale maintained good possession they could not break down a solid defence marshalled by man of the match Joe Endacott.

Welland levelled on 52 minutes when ex-Malvern Town player Endacott's shot moved in the air and was spilled by keeper Luke Pawley for defender John Gullick to net his third goal of the season.

Vale's Rodrigues headed over when unmarked and Anthony Cakebread fired wide on the turn from six yards out.

Welland bagged the winner on 81 minutes when a throw-in was nodded down by Haywood to Jamie Harding who squared to Ed Lyons and he turned to fire into the corner of the net.

It was Welland's first victory over their rivals at the fourth attempt in the last two seasons while Vale had not previously lost competitively since the start of January.

Vale visit Falcons Reserves on Saturday while Welland go to Gala Wilton A.