MALVERN Vale suffered Cheltenham League Minor Cup final heartache to lower-ranked FC Lakeside reserves in front of a healthy crowd at Bishop's Cleeve's Kayte Lane headquarters.

Vale went down 2-0 to a side that featured ex-Evesham United centre back Leroy Odiero and former Cheltenham Town scholar Cleo Hoare.

Openings were created at either end but it began to look like it would not be Malvern's night when influential midfielder Andre Rodrigues was substituted through injury after a heavy coming together.

Minutes later Vale were caught napping from a short corner and although keeper Marcin Celmer punched clear the initial cross, Scott Edgington was perfectly placed to send a looping header into the net with 17 minutes to play.

Vale were then forced to push forward in numbers and they got caught by a sucker punch with Hoare rattling in a free-kick from 25 yards.

The Division Three title chasers soon got back on track at the weekend, though, demolishing Gala Wilton thirds 7-0 with the help of five goals in 12 second-half minutes.

Pep Ienzi divided the teams at half-time with the flurry beginning 18 minutes from time. Miguel Passaro bagged a hat-trick with substitute Nick Jones notching a double. Ethan Lambert scored the seventh at the death.

Vale head to Cheltenham Civil Service thirds in the league on Saturday (2.30).

Elsewhere, Hanley Swan rounded off in style their home campaign in Division One by beating Dowty Dynamos 5-0.

Ashley Bloore scored a hat-trick with Jackson McMullen and substitute Kevin Moore also getting in on the act. Four of the goals came after the interval in spite of Hanley playing up the slop in the second half.

Hanley still have four away league matches to play beginning with a trip to bottom-of-the-table Fintan on Saturday (2.30).