Junior Football

ECKINGTON Juniors faced unbeaten Lenches in Ambassador Evesham League action.

After some early pressure from Eckington and several chances being squandered by the home side, Lenches opened the scoring.

Eckington soon got back on level terms through Bastie Brothwood.

Juniors began the second-half on the attack and the Lenches keeper produced a string of fine saves.

Aaron Harriot-Evans drove in a fierce shot which the Lenches keeper did well to parry but the ball spun into his own net.

Lenches were in no mood to give up their unbeaten record as they pressed for an equaliser. They were awarded a free-kick, which was smashed goalwards.

The shot took a wicked change of direction off an Eckington defender and found its way into the bottom corner.

In the closing stages, Harriot-Evans thought he had grabbed the winner for Eckington as he fired in a powerful, dipping shot which beat the Lenches keeper, only for it to smash against the crossbar and bounce to safety.

Droitwich Tigers u11s 5, Badsey Rangers u11s 0.

AFTER good early pressure from Droitwich, Badsey responded and their first chance came when Ben Holland’s goal-bound shot was deflected wide for a corner.

However, after 12 minutes the deadlock was broken by Droitwich Tigers. Following a good period of pressure down Badsey’s left-hand flank, a neat ball found the Tigers forward just inside the penalty area and he finished coolly.

Badsey had barely drawn breath before Droitwich doubled their lead on 13 minutes. Another dangerous cross, this time from the right-hand side, threatened Badsey’s goal and, after the first shot had been blocked, the Tigers slotted the rebound home.

Badsey’s Marco Bille had a powerful low shot from 18 yards which the Droitwich keeper did well to save.

During the half-time break, Badsey re-shuffled their formation which saw them start the second period in a positive style with Ben Holland shooting wide from the edge of the area.

All of Rangers’ good work was undone by a sharp Tigers break after another Badsey attack had broken down. The Droitwich forward latched onto a long through ball before keeping his cool to slot home into the right-hand corner.

A fourth nearly came for Droitwich 18 minutes into the second-half. A solo break from a Tigers’ midfield player saw him cut through the Rangers’ defence and it required a great save form Adam Ballard to maintain the scoreline.

Badsey still would not give up and Ryan Keyte had a speculative shot from 25 yards which flew over the bar.

But, with eight minutes left, the fourth did come. A fluent passing move from the Tigers saw them move the ball from the centre circle out to the right wing and from there a fine cross was fired into the penalty area where the Droitwich forward met it first time to finish into the bottom corner from two yards.

Droitwich scored a fifth with just three minutes left. This time the danger came from sharp passing on the left-hand side of Badsey’s area resulting in a low shot from 10 yards which crept in.

Welford u11s 2, Eckington Juniors u11s 5.

ECKINGTON Juniors travelled to Welford knowing that an away victory would take them to the top of the table.

It looked like it was going to be a nightmare trip, as poor Eckington defending allowed Welford to take a two-goal lead.

The visitors started to take control of the game and Josh Fendt pulled a goal back, neatly slotting a shot into the bottom corner. As Eckington forced several goal- mouth scrambles, the pressure finally resulted in a Welford defender sliding the ball into his own net.

Strong second-half pressure led to Welford heading into their own goal from an inswinging cross. Sam Peters slammed in a crucial fourth for Eckington. Team-mate Josh Fendt steered home a fifth. Inkberrow u13s 1, Gloucester City u13s 0.

INKBERROW hosted Gloucester City for a Junior Premier League South clash and both sides served up a competitive and constructive game that deserved more than the solitary goal.

The hosts’ confidence was high as Guy and Leonard took control of midfield from the start. Knight and Oxley provided width and combined well with full-back partners, Ravenhall and Newton.

The latter showed composure and a desire to press forward. Gloucester maintained a solid shape and looked to break at every opportunity. Inkberrow looked comfortable in the second-half having changed shape, pushing an additional striker forward. Short played the holding midfield role well and his break-up play led to Leonard testing the keeper.

Leonard was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and took the free-kick himself to slam it into the roof of the net. Gloucester showed more aggression in the final five minutes, but a tantalising free-kick sailed the wrong side of the post.

Nunnery Wood Falcons u13s 0, Evesham United Robins u13s 1.

EVESHAM United Robins maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a hard-fought win at Nunnery Wood.

The visitors got off to a good start, quickly pressed Nunnery Wood back and were rewarded with a goal when Bradley Izod played Tom Leonard in. He beat the keeper to go 1-0 up. Nunnery Wood settled and Josh Rogers made a good save from a corner. United’s Dom Taylor beat two players but his shot went wide. In the second period, Ben Ainsworth and Johnathon Robinson missed more chances for the visitors, who hung on for the win.