MALVERN Vale Firsts won 5-4 on penalties at higher-ranked Tenbury United to reach the Worcestershire FA Saturday Minor Cup semi-finals.

They beat the former winners, who play in the Herefordshire FA League Premier Division, after drawing the 90 minutes 0-0.

The conditions did not suit Vale and only got worse in the second half when the rain started.

Tenbury, aided by the wind, heaped early pressure on and looked to use their pace.

But Vale skipper Jay Jones, playing with an injury, worked hard alongside Alen Damadzic, Tom Stone and Samson Arishe at the back to hold firm.

A Tenbury free-kick dropped over the bar while Mario Vieira and Anthony Cakebread fired off target for the visitors.

With the wind behind Vale in the second period, they looked to expose Tenbury on the break with Edgar Sanha and Andre Rodrigues working tirelessly in the middle.

Matt Strangwood fired a one-on-one effort straight at the keeper and pacy substitute Ash Griffiths was denied by a last-ditch tackle.

The Tenbury keeper slipped as he went to kick a back-pass and the ball rolled just past his post.

With the tie level the game was decided by a penalty shootout.

Rodrigues, Griffiths, Strangwood, Sanha and Vieira scored their spot-kicks with keeper Marcin Celmer saving one.

Vale return to Cheltenham League Division Three action at Cheltenham Civil Service Thirds on Saturday.

Welland Reserves lost 3-0 at Droitwich Spa BGFC under 21s in their county quarter-final.

Malvern Cave were overtaken at the top of Division Four by FC Lakeside Reserves who thrashed them 5-0.

Malvern Vale Reserves won 6-1 at Woodmancote United with Ashley Dallow (2), Frederick Harrison (2) and James Marschall among the goals.

In Division One, Ben Peplow scored as Hanley Swan crashed 5-1 at Andoversford.

Leaders Upton Town beat Kings 3-1 thanks to Matthew Hindmarsh (2) and Zaqib Hussain.

Ninth-placed Welland lost 4-3 at Brockworth Albion who are fifth in Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One.