CIRENCESTER YOUTH LEAGUE: MALMESBURY retained the cup in the under 16 division after a 2-1 extra-time victory over old foes Highworth.

It was a repeat of the 2002 showpiece, but this time Malmesbury came from behind to take the honours.

It was Highworth who started the brightest with some good passing football.

Alex Parker opened the scoring with a fine individual run through a crowded Malmesbury penalty area to put Highworth in front.

It took until midway through the first half for Malmesbury to mount an effective attack and on 25 minutes James Brown muscled his way through the Highworth defence and looped the ball past keeper Luke Adams to bring the scores level.

The second half was a fairly scrappy affair, but Malmesbury had the best of the chances.

Jamie Glock blasted high and wide for Highworth but neither side was able to break the deadlock and the game went into extra time.

Just before the end of the first period an attempted overhead kick in a crowded Highworth penalty area was going well wide, but Clint Walker rose at the near post to head Malmesbury in front.

Highworth claimed that the Malmesbury player was off-side, but neither the referee or assistant agreed.

A nerve-jangling final period saw Malmesbury have their chances but Highworth stayed in touch.

With just minutes to go Daniel Whitaker was sure that he had managed to nudge the ball over the Malmesbury line following a massive goalmouth scramble, but play was waved on, and Malmesbury ran out time to hang on to the cup.