MALVERN Vale Academy made hard work for themselves again in a 5-3 home win over Bishops Cleeve Development Reserves in Cheltenham Association League Division Four.

After going two down and one behind in the previous two games, this time they trailed 3-0 before coming back to win with five goals in 30 minutes.

Vale featured new signings Jay Jones, Aaron Waldron and Edgar Sanha on their debuts.

They started brightly with Anthony Cakebread causing problems down the right without creating clear chances.

Against the run of play and with their first shot of the game, Cleeve took the lead, taking advantage of a defensive lapse down the right before cutting in past the exposed George Weaver.

Vale lost their shape and started to look more ragged.

With their second shot, Cleeve increased their lead, again going through and firing past Weaver with a one-on-one.

Vale were lucky not to go a third down after Weaver made a save on the edge of his area.

The goal was at the mercy of the Cleeve striker but Mike Thackeray, on as a sub as the management looked to stem the tide, threw his body in front of the shot to stop the effort.

Vale looked a completely different level to their opponents when they got the ball but struggled to make an impact.

The side were given a slightly different shape at half-time and appeared to have the desired impact.

But against the run of play skipper Jacob Hooper made a rash challenge in the box, giving referee Moses Francois little option but to award a penalty that Cleeve converted.

With 30 minutes to go, few would have predicted what was about to happen.

Cakebread cut inside and fired a shot from the edge of the box which left the keeper partially unsighted and only able to parry into his own net.

Vale sparked to life and from then on it was one-way traffic.

A pinpoint Mike Buckland cross, who thrived in his new right-back role getting man of the match, found Andre Rodrigues whose header back across goal found the top corner.

Minutes later, Cal Hill continued his goal-scoring form as again the keeper got something on his shot but the ball looped up into the air and dropped into the net to level.

Cleeve created the odd chance on the break but Vale pushed for all three points.

Debutant Sanha found himself in space in the box after a through-ball and with his quick feet created an opening to commit the keeper before sidestepping and coolly slotting home to give Vale the lead.

Cleeve searched for an equaliser which left gaps at the back and Rodrigues went through with a long ball over the top but fired straight at the keeper.

In a similar move with barely a minute to go, Hill broke through and calmly slotted past the onrushing keeper to complete the scoring.

Seventh-placed Vale will look to start stronger in coming games but now have four wins on the bounce in all competitions.

They travel to bottom-of-the-table Charlton Rovers thirds on Saturday.

The second-placed Vale firsts lost 4-3 at Winchcombe Town Reserves in Division Four despite goals from Toby Boswell, Ashley Dallow and Joe Turner.

They host Woodmancote United on Saturday.

Welland Reserves lost 4-3 at Fintan Reserves with Ben Pearson bagging a hat-trick and they entertain Winchcombe Town Reserves on Saturday.