HANLEY Swan drew 1-1 at home to Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves in a battle of the Cheltenham League Division Two high-fliers.

Luke Duffett hit the bar with an early free-kick in an entertaining clash.

Cathal McTernan and James Moule attacked well down the wings alongside lone striker Tom Morris.

Midway through the half, keeper Dan Rawlings saved a Cheltenham penalty.

Jamie Heason put Moule through but he was denied by the keeper. However, Cheltenham’s pressure paid off as they took the lead.

Despite good midfield work from Jackson McMullen and Duffett, Hanley remained behind at half-time.

Joel Hobbs joined Morris up front in a 4-4-2 system in the second period and Hanley swiftly equalised through Duffett’s low shot into the bottom corner.

Fine defending kept Cheltenham out and Moule just missed out in a one-on-one.

Hanley host Pittville United on Saturday (3pm).

Malvern Vale Academy won 7-0 at Bishops Cleeve Development Reserves to go level on points at the top.

Andres Rodrigues filled a more defensive role with a man-of-the-match display.

Vale scored twice within the first four minutes.

Winger Cal Hill cut in and fired at goal with keeper Tom Nichols parrying for Gav Hodgkins to net.

Ash Griffiths then turned to score from the edge of the box from Toby Boswell’s pass.

Vale dominated the second half.

Boswell headed in Griffiths’ corner on the hour before Ben Goode fired into an empty net after Alen Damadzic robbed the keeper.

Three goals in the last five minutes saw Mario Vieira beat the stranded keeper from 35 yards, sub Mike Baker head in Michael Buckland’s cross and Samson Arishe curl in a seventh.

Vale host Charlton Rovers thirds on Saturday. Malvern Vale beat Winchcombe Town Reserves 3-1 in Division Four.

Ashley Dallow opened the scoring from a Joe Turner assist.

A long ball from keeper Stephen Newman then gave Dallow his 20th goal in 23 games.

Winchcombe pulled a goal back but in the 75th minute a Kieran Kinsella assist allowed Joe Dallow to seal the three points.

Aaron Griffiths was man of the match for Vale who visit Woodmancote United on Saturday.