AFTER so many weeks of postponed games due to waterlogged and then frozen pitches the HSA Youth League finally had a full programme of league and cup matches last weekend.

In the under-16's knockout cup second-in-the-table Test Valley Lions joined leaders Shipton Rams in the next round with a 7-0 away win at bottom club Porton but third placed South Wonston made heavy weather of a tight 5-4 home win over Vernham, who have just one league win to their credit.

Test Valley finally re-launched their challenge for the league and cup double after just one game in eight weeks with their victory at Porton Although Jason Holmes' side looked very tired they were always in control.

Luke Brinkworth fired them ahead with a neat solo effort and his striking partner Nick Roberts collected a brace of goals before half time. Further efforts from Simon Connolly and David Knight guaranteed a Test Valley victory, with Roberts rapping a hat-trick to take his match tally to five, and Rick Harris completed the scoring with the Lions' seventh with 10 minutes left.

Just cup matches for the under-14's where another Porton side languishing at the foot of the league table were victims of a 15-1 onslaught from Sarah Jacobs' South Wonston for a place in the semi-finals while a rule confusion in the 2-2 draw between Wherwell and Shipton Rams which should have gone to extra time and penalties, but did not, and will have to be replayed tomorrow (Saturday).

Porton arrived at South Wonston with only eight players but still wanting a game of football and Swifts, despite playing with only nine and having two others as rolling substitutes, overwhelmed the courageous visitors with goals at regular intervals from D Jacobs, L Harbour (2), R Double (3), L Beckford (2), L Shergold, R Timbrell, B Rabbitts, A Dunscombe (2) and S Justice.

Upsets were in store in the under-13's cup. Leaders Swan Hill moved comfortably into the semi-finals with a 4-2 away win at South Wonston but second placed Lockerley and Ron Hoare's third placed RPM both went out, Lockerley going down 2-1 at Salisbury and RPM losing 5-3 to John Wright's Clarendon Celtic.

Trevor Palmer's Swans were missing several key players and trailed to an early goal but an excellent finish from midfielder Jamie Pollard squared matters before the break and their youngest player, Danny Gale, slotted them ahead from the penalty spot in the second half. Swifts came back to level five minutes from the end but Swans finally stamped their authority for a place in the next round with further goals from Tom Howe and Fraser Colley.

In the league, the under-16's mid-table clash between Chilbolton and CK Andover the latter kept their unbeaten run going with a 4-2 victory. CK took a two goal lead with goals from Alex Thompson and Tom Barnett, Chilbolton hit back with a goal just before half time and with their tails up created a lot of pressure early on in the second half. But a further two goals from Ashton Summerfield secured the victory. Player-of-the-match went to Jeremy King.

At under-13 level the one league game saw lowly Upper Clatford record their second victory of the season with a decisive 8-0 away win at CK Andover, which saw them leapfrog over their Goodworth Clatford neighbours who have three more games in hand over all their close rivals. CK struggled with 10 players against a determined Clatfford side looking to avenge an earlier defeat. With Wayne Collins the player-of-the-match with an excellent game as sweeper, Clatford led 4-0 at the break and Tommy Gentleman (3), James Moss (2), Adam Rciketts (2) and Terry Holdaway were the scorers in a well deserved win for the Clatford boys.

In the competitive under-12 division former leaders South Wonston lost a hard fought game 1-0 to Melvyn Rees and Andy Barritt's third placed Hatherden, with Simon Rees netting the all-important goal from the penalty spot for Hatherden to gain revenge for an earlier home defeat by Swifts.

Hatherden are now level pegging in top spot with Andrew Healey's Hatch Warren who, as well as having a two-game advantage, showed their league intentions with a 4-2 home win over Porton. Only two points now separate the top three in this division.

Simon Bevis' fast improving Swan Hill in fourth place ran out convincing 6-0 winners at Vernham and are closely followed Test Valley Lions who scored three less when winning away at Whitchurch.

Tony Leach's Lion Print sponsored Test Valley had to work hard for their victory. Both teams battled well in a goal-less first half but in the second half Test Valley stepped up a gear and the prolific Ashley Leach put them ahead, much to the relief of the travelling support, followed by two further goals in quick succession from Brett Cann and Nick Hollway, whilst Tom Burton went close on several occasions and was awarded player-of-the-match. In the under-11's first division Diane Harkes' Gang Warily had plenty to cheer about in a difficult season after their 6-2 win over Tidworth RBL whilst middle of the table sides Porton and Upper Clatford shared the points in a 2-2 draw. In the second division a reversal in fortunes for Gang Warily with Hatherden making the journey to Blackfield and coming away with both points with a runaway 12-2 triumph.

Such are the highs and lows of weekly football!

And the final results this week at under-10 level saw Lockerley keep alive their hopes of a league and cup double after a 4-2 away win at Porton in the cup whilst in league Lockerley's second division side also ran out 2-0 victors at home against Upper Clatford, despite the efforts of Clatford's player-of-the-match Jonathan Griffin, and Martyn Page's table-topping Whitchurch held onto single-point advantage with a comfortable 5-0 home win over mid-table Test Valley.