Junior Football

TWO good strikes from Josh Senter put Malvern in command early on in this Mercian Festival League Division Two clash, but Newtown pulled one back just before half-time.

They could have been on equal terms had Tim Marsh not made a saving tackle.

In the second-half, Newtown grabbed an early equaliser and looked to be getting on top.

Malvern made a tactical switch, moving Megan Jones onto the right wing to use her pace with Jordan Roan taking control of the midfield.

This brought instant results with Jones setting up Matt Cole to put Malvern ahead. Soon after the re-start, Jones crossed to Senter who completed his hat-trick.

With Roan bossing the midfield, Malvern grew in confidence and Newtown struggled to cope with Senter and Cole.

Malvern had their tails up and Billy Coleman pushed forward on the left, combining well with James MacDermott.

Cole shot over but then struck his second to put the result beyond doubt.

Redditch Girls u13s 0, Newtown Sports Juniors Girls u13s 3.

REDDITCH United started the game well and put some promising moves together.

But Ellie Cox and Sophie Brookes coped with what danger the hosts posed.

Newtown started to come into the game and it was Georgina Smith who led the charge, as she was allowed to go to the edge of the penalty box and fire home.

With Ayesha Nelson being well marshalled, Newtown turned to Lizzy King to become the playmaker and, with some neat touches, she kept Sports moving forward and creating chances.

But robust defending ensured the score remained close until midway through the half, Redditch proved they had not learned from mistakes.

Smith found herself on the edge of the penalty box from where she scored her fourth in two games, to give Newtown a 2-0 half-time lead.

The second period started with Newtown, who won the previous week’s fixture between the sides 4-1, being put under constant pressure and having to revert to playing the long ball out of defence to try and gain respite.

Midway through the half, Redditch did manage to get the ball past Jo Johnson but Brookes was on the line to clear the danger.

With five minutes to go, Nelson got the goal her performance deserved, chasing a long ball out of defence and rounded the keeper to give Newtown the victory.

Ledbury Swifts Rovers u13s 2, Lads Club u13s 2.

LEDBURY Swifts Rovers hosted Lads Club with both side unbeaten this season, and in a full bloodied encounter the spoils were shared.

Swifts started brightly and were soon ahead with Sam Branch netting after a quick break.

Lads Club then began to dominate proceedings and were unlucky when striking the bar from a fierce free-kick.

The hosts defence was tested for the remainder of the half, and held firm until the final minute when a quick free-kick sprung the home defence and the visitors finished neatly to make it 1-1 at half-time.

After the break the hosts started well creating chances, and Branch was upended in the box.

He stepped up himself only to miss the resulting penalty.

Moments later, the visitors sprung from defence and, after a challenge in the host’s box, Lads Club were awarded a penalty, which was converted.

In the final minutes, Ledbury pushed for an equaliser, and after the Lads Club keeper had saved a long range free-kick, Joseph Bullock pounced to finish to grab a share of the points.

Ledbury Swifts Athletic u15s 3, Pegasus Pumas u15s 1.

LEDBURY Swifts opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Tom Skittery fired home a low shot from inside the penalty area.

Pegasus upped their game but were denied by some excellent defending from James Trodd, Sam Ellis, Ryan Jones and Jake Eager, to keep their 1-0 lead intact at half-time.

The second-half started off end-to-end but it was Swifts who doubled their lead when Harrison Oakshott-Francis slotted home after a good passing move.

As Pegasus tried to get back into the game the home side broke away and gained a penalty which Scott Brown powerfully shot into the net.

Pegasus scored a consolation goal in injury-time.