MALVERN Vale Firsts went top of Cheltenham League Division Three after beating fellow high-fliers Andoversford Reserves 5-3.

In Vale's first home game since September 1, Ben Goode took over in goal for the suspended Marcin Celmer while top scorer Ash Griffiths and Luke Pawley were unavailable.

Vale started brightly and after just three minutes Mario Vieira and Mig Passaro combined and the latter slotted home coolly.

Five minutes later Passaro was through again and although his shot was saved it fell for Matt Strangwood to fire home his eighth goal of the season.

But the game was scrappy and end-to-end with Andoversford scoring on 24 minutes when Samson Arishe misplaced a pass just outside the area and the visitors fired past Goode.

Vale regained their two-goal cushion on the half-hour mark when Passaro was again denied but the rebound cannoned off a retreating defender into his own net.

But a two-minute period just before half-time changed the course of the game.

Skipper Jay Jones' header back to Goode from a long ball was misjudged and Andoversford pounced to net.

A minute later confusion between the keeper and the skipper led to Goode taking out a striker and the successful penalty levelled the clash.

Vale were frustrated after late challenges went unpunished and Vieira was their player to receive a sin-bin.

They still had most of the play and chances and on 76 minutes with Vieira back man of the match Andre Rodrigues curled the ball into the top corner with the outside of his boot from distance.

With a minute to go Passaro cut in and curled a shot into the far corner via a deflection.

Vale host holders Bretforton Old Boys in the Worcestershire FA Minor Cup second round on Saturday having been knocked out by the same side away last year.

Division Four leaders Malvern Cave beat Andoversford Thirds 3-1 with an Ashley Prosser hat-trick.

Upton Town went through in the Junior Charity Cup with a 2-0 win on penalties after drawing 1-1 at Shurdington Rovers.

Dylan Hart scored their goal.

Hanley Swan lost 2-1 at home to Bishops Cleeve A with Ash Hall-Robinson on target.