HANLEY Swan eventually saw off the challenge of determined Southside Star in a 4-3 victory that tightened their grip on third spot in Cheltenham League Division Two.

Having taken the lead through Mark Thomas, Hanley went on to establish a pair of two-goal leads but Star refused to lie down and applied pressure right up to the end.

The hosts started brightly with Thomas pinching possession off a defender before converting low into the bottom corner during the opening exchanges.

Southside responded well and forced keeper Dan Rawlings to make a smart stop before levelling from close quarters.

Hanley upped the ante once more with Ash Bloore having a good free-kick well saved and he went close with another effort after a good run. Another free-kick, this time taken by Kevin Moore went just wide but with five minutes to go before half-time Mark Amott headed in.

A golden chance went begging when Luke Duffett headed the ball on to Jackson McMullen but his effort went over the bar but Hanley eventually went further ahead when a good pass from Bloore was stroked home by Duffett.

Southside pushed forward looking for a goal and were soon rewarded, bundling in from a corner to make it 3-2 but Hanley were in no mood to give up their lead.

With 30 minutes remaining Hanley restored their two-goal advantage when Duffett headed in a McMullen corner and nearly went further ahead but only to see Bloore hit the post.

Southside struck again and as the final whistle approached, they had a series of corners but could not net. The away side’s goals came from Rob Deary, Paul Tassell and substitute Josh Smith. The return fixture takes place on Saturday (3pm).

n Malvern Vale Academy remains at the head of the chasing pack in Division Four courtesy of a comical own goal.

Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Smiths reserves was sealed when goalkeeper Aaron Brown spilled a Gavin Hodgkins cross into his own net with 10 minutes to go.

Smiths had fielded a smattering of first-team players but Vale made an early breakthrough when a Craig Morris free kick from the halfway line was headed towards his own goal by Smiths’ Martin Uren.

As Brown dived, the ball squirmed loose and sat on the goal line to leave Ashley Griffiths free for the easiest tap-in of his career.

The goal seemed to bring Smiths to life with Louie Barnfather looking dangerous with a flurry of attacks, including a free-kick he had earned from Edgar Sanha’s foul.

Griffiths missed a one-on-one opportunity at the other end with new signing Toby Boswell unlucky not to convert after Griffiths had crossed with Brown stranded.

Barnfather was then in the game again with his through ball allowing James Stepney to lob the advancing George Weaver in the Vale goal to level.

A long-range Barnfather effort cannoned back off the crossbar as Smiths upped the ante but that momentum was stifled when the striker lunged in on Weaver and was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The match turned back in Vale’s favour and the decider soon arrived from Brown’s moment of misfortune.

The result saw Vale’s Academy steal a march on the senior side, who lost 5-1 at Welland reserves.