Littleton 2, Malvern Rangers 2.

(Malvern won 5-4 after extra-time and penalties).

LEE Hooper was the shoot-out hero as his penalty won the Worcester and District League Saturday Junior Cup final for Malvern Rangers.

Playing with the slope in the first-half, Littleton had much the better of the first-half as Malvern took time to settle into their stride.

The fast pace of the game caught Rangers napping early on as Littleton’s Joe Walsh fired in a long range shot which keeper Ian Hill could only parry into the path of Alex Baird. He tucked the ball home but was disappointed to see his effort ruled out for offside.

Malvern’s first effort came as Dave Reynolds laid the ball off to Ollie Endacott and, rounding the right-back, he hit the side netting.

The game flowed from end-to-end and with 18 minutes played Rob Cullen raced back to help his defence and was adjudged to have tripped Baird in the box.

The referee awarded a penalty which was driven home by Adrian Witts.

Cullen almost atoned for his error moments later as he raced past the left-back and only the quickness of goalkeeper Danny Edwards prevented what looked a certain score.

Littleton kept up the pressure and only superb defending by Tim Clarke, Joe Leighton and Andy Fletcher prevented further scores.

Rangers’ best effort of the half came on 38 minutes as Paul Edwards set up Reynolds and the latters’ first-time shot was saved by an excellent one-handed diving save from Edwards.

The referee was kept busy, booking three Rangers players and two from Littleton. Coach Les Jones changed the attacking formation at half-time and this seemed to work in Rangers’ favour as they dominated the second period.

With 50 minutes played, Cullen’s long throw-in was shielded and then laid off by Hooper to Paul Edwards who shot just wide.

Rangers grew in confidence and quick one-touch passing saw Endacott race into the box where he was upended. This time Hooper rattled the back of the net with an equaling penalty.

Malvern built up the pressure and went close several times and, when Littleton counter-attacked, Hill did well, coming off his line saving with his knees.

As the game went into extra-time Joe Endacott’s timely tackle denied Joe Lolley as he weaved his way towards the goal.

Seconds later, Hill pulled off the save of the match so far to deny Littleton.

With tiredness creeping in, the referee was kept busy until the bookings were four apiece.

Malvern finally took the lead for the first time in the match as Cullen’s clearance found Ed Lyons who outpaced a defender, and then steadied himself before curling the ball into the far right hand corner of the net for 2-1.

With only minutes to go, Malvern tried to slow the game down by introducing substitues but this backfired and Littleton equalised with seconds to go.

The game went to penalties and with both side scoring two and missing two, it was Hill who managed a save to give Rangers the advantage, and it was Hooper whose fierce shot won the game.