Phoenix Ladies 5 Malvern Town 2

PHOENIX ensured an exciting end to their first season in adult football by reaching the final of the Wyvern Associates Cup with a semi-final win over league champions Malvern Town.

Phoenix, whose oldest players are just 16, made a superb start with goal from Michelle Francis and Laura Davies inside the first 10 minutes but two goals from Emily Prosser either side of half-time levelled matters.

But the equaliser sparked Phoenix into action and Emily Gilbert got between two defenders to finish off a fine move to restore the lead.

And 14-year-old centre forward Simone Quinn headed home the fourth from a corner before putting the result beyond doubt by smashing home a shot from the edge of the box.

Phoenix were able to see out the last few minutes despite losing goalkeeper Holly Malone who was sent off for handling outside the penalty area.

l Phoenix under-14 girls are hoping to add to the club's silverware this weekend when they take on Brixworth in the Central Warwickshire League Cup final at Birmingham's Wheelers Lane stadium.

l Phoenix completed a quickfire Mercian under-13 League double over Bromyard Girls when, due to fixture congestion, the sides played back-to-back games.

Despite Bromyard's lowly, one-from-bottom, position in the table, both matches were extremely close with Phoenix emerging with 4-3 wins on each occasion.

In the first match, skipper Clare Almond and Tasha Merris (2) struck to help Bromyard to a 3-1 half-time lead only for the city side to stage a strong second-half recovery.

In the second match Phoenix raced into a four-goal lead before an Almond hat-trick reduced the deficit. Only a late goal-line clearance prevented Merris from snatching a draw for the home side.