TABLE-toppers Welland Juniors travelled to Salford Rovers looking to complete the double over their hosts for the first time in their history.

SALFORD ROVERS 2, WELLAND JUNIORS U16s 8

A win would also ensure they stayed top with just one game of the current campaign remaining.

The visitors created many more chances than they converted placing the home defence under constant pressure. They contained them in their own half for much of the game and could have put the final result beyond doubt before the first 40 minutes had elapsed.

Instead, two goals by the outstanding forward, Russell Alderson gave Welland a well deserved two-goal lead.

Another solid display by the Welland defence effectively snuffed out any half opportunities that Salford's route one football attempted to create

At half-time, injured midfielder, Josh Kirby made way for Joel Hobbs who made an instant impact on the game with a number of timely tackles and mazy runs on the right wing.

However, it was Welland's industrious captain, Joe Waldron, whose clever chip on the edge of the area found Josh Fernie, who placed his shot past the static keeper to rattle the back of the net. It was the same player who struck an excellent volley from just outside the area to score the visitors' fourth and effectively put the game beyond Salford.

A superb long distance lob from the left of the area by Mark Hopcutt and with Russell Alderson completing his hat-trick Welland went six up before a lapse of concentration gave Salford a momentary ray of hope with two quick goals.

Despite their comfortable lead this stung the visitors back into action bouncing straight back with two goals of their own from man-of-the-match Russell Alderson to complete the scoring and keep Welland at the top of the table.

MALVERN TOWN WANDERERS U15s 3,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U15s 1

MALVERN Town Wanderers played an under strength Newtown Sports Juniors in this midweek Mercian Festival League fixture at Victoria Park.

The first-half started with Wanderers having a number of shots on goal and on 11 minutes they went 1-0 ahead. They kept the pressure with Ollie Mason having a number of shots at goal and Matt Hutchinson making some telling runs. On 27 minutes Adam Johnson shot wide for Newtown and four minutes later Matt Hutchinson played a super ball to Ben White who increased the lead to 2-0. On 33 minutes James Lush was denied after a number of good saves by Matt Higgs making the half time score 2-0.

The second half started much the same as the first ended with Ben White hitting the crossbar from a free kick and constantly peppering the Newtown goal. On 59 minutes Lewis Hooper pulled off a super save for Wanderers following an Adam Johnson shot. Good defending from Wanderers once again thwarted Johnson and both Paul Jordan and Matt Hopkinson shot just over the cross bar for Wanderers. Ollie Mason consolidated Wanderers' lead with a third goal in the 68th minute but on 77 minutes Newtown pulled one back making the final score 3-1.

NEWTOWN Sports Juniors travelled to Droitwich to take on the Packers in this Mercian League U14 encounter. This was a double header, so two matches were played.

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U14S 1,

DROITWICH SPA PACKERS 2

THIS was possible Newtown U14s worse display of the season and continued the pattern of Jeykell and Hyde performances.

The team were lacklustre and did not show the necessary commitment and drive to get anything out of the game. The only bright spark was the performance of Danny Robinson who battled well in mid-field and scored Newtown's only goal with a coolly taken spot-kick.

The Packers wrapped the game up in the dying minutes when they scored a goal which was clearly looked off-side.

Newtown's man-of-the-match was Danny Robinson.

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U14S 3,

DROITWICH SPA PACKERS 1

FOLLOWING a tough team talk by the management, the Juniors came out fired-up for the second game.

Newtown's defence were largely untroubled and the mid-field made sure that the Packers were pushed deep into their own half. Chances fell to McCann, Lean and Mason although it was Andy Branaley who came closest to breaking the deadlock. At half-time the score remained 0-0.

The second half saw the Juniors play some excellent football. Josh Butler gave the Juniors the lead with a 30-yard drive that left the keeper no chance. This was quickly followed by a second goal for the Juniors, scored by the ever-dogged Ben Knott. The game was wrapped up for the Juniors when Josh Butler scored his second to make it 3-0.

Late in the game, the Packers scored a controversial goal. The referee ruled that the ball had crossed the line despite a fantastic save by Chris Spicer.

Newtown's man of the match was Josh Butler.

The team are sponsored by Wells Joinery Limited.

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U12s 4,

NEWTOWN SPORTS COLTS U12s 2

IT was the Juniors who emerged with all of the points in this most local of Mercian Festival League derbies.

The Juniors started brightly putting the Colts goal under pressure with neat interchanges of passing and good movement but the final shot was just off target or saved. The deadlock was broken on 12 minutes when Turner pressured the keeper and defender the ball broke to Watling who made no mistake when rifling home. The second soon followed when a defensive clearance was sent fizzing back with a Bannister volley that flew into the net. Colts established a foothold with some pressure of their own with shots going narrowly wide.

The second half saw the Colts pressure the Juniors back-line but Parker and Kyte stood tall whilst Rogers and Bridges assisted to great effect. It took a mix-up to allow Colts back into the game, lack of communication between the centre defenders and the keeper allowed Garfield to take advantage and he easily slotted home. Juniors responded and quickly restored their advantage when Turner's predatory instincts saw him flash home from a corner.

Juniors now endured a period of sustained pressure and saw their lead reduced once more. Staunson let fly with a long range effort that eluded Freeman's leap and into the net. With play end to end it was the Juniors that secured the points when a cross was handled in the area allowing Bannister to slot home the resultant penalty.

Man-of-the-match was Joe Kyte

LEIGH & BRANSFORD BROCKS U11S 2,

NEWTOWN SPORTS JUNIORS U11S 5

LEIGH started the match by putting the Newtown defence under pressure but found keeper Sam Parsons in good form.

Newtown began to enjoy more possession and Conor Amphlett came close to opening the scoring but his long-range shot was well saved. Midway through the first half Newtown took the lead after a well worked move between Rowan Standish-Hayes and Bradley Heron resulted with the ball deflecting off Standish-Hayes' head leaving the Leigh keeper with no chance. George Parsons was involved in all the midfield action for Newtown and forced the Leigh 'keeper into a good save from a well-taken shot.

The second half started similar to the first with Leigh putting the Newtown defence under pressure and it came as no surprise when they equalised. However almost from the kick-off Bradley Heron hit a superb volley to restore the Newtown lead. Zac Buckle then set up Standish-Hayes who hit a ferocious shot past the Leigh keeper to make it 3-1.

Leigh responded well and scored a good goal to get back into the game. This spurred Newtown on who increased their lead with another good goal from Heron. Rowan Standish-Hayes completed his hat-trick with a fine individual goal.

Newtown man-of-the-match was George Parsons.

Newtown Sports Juniors U11s are sponsored by Specialist Care Services.