Ben Whitehead hit a hat-trick as Vale of White Horse Under 14s opened their season with an impressive 6-2 win over Cheltenham in the Vale Cup at Milton United.

Whitehead set Vale on the way with the first goal after eight minutes, and Oliver Taylor added a second.

Cheltenham pulled one back, but Whitehead restored Vale's two-goal advantage before half-time.

Frankie Merola lobbed the keeper from 30 yards for No 4 only for Cheltenham to reduce the deficit again.

Whitehead completed his hat-trick, and then provided Ashley Towse with an open goal to seal the victory.

Vale of White Horse Under 13s went down 2-1 to a bigger and stronger East Berks in their Meeson Trophy opener at Letcombe FC.

The visitors dominated the early stages, and it was no surprise when they took the lead.

Vale were then unfortunate to concede a second goal on the stroke of half-time.

They improved in the second half, and pulled one back when Sam Short crossed for Conor Harris to ram the ball home at the far post, but they couldn't force an equaliser.

Vale of White Horse Under 11s bowed out of the Southern Counties Cup with a 5-2 extra-time defeat by Dacorum in the first round at Broadfield Junior School, Hemel Hempstead.

The two sides were locked together at 2-2 at the end of normal time, but then Vale condeded two goals in as many minutes early in the first period of extra time.

Matthew Taylor had a penalty saved for Vale, and their fate was sealed when Dacorum grabbed a fifth in the second period of extra time.

Vale had opened the scoring in normal time when Owen Shaw scooped Jack Brown's cross over the keeper in the eighth minute.

Dacorum netted twice in quick succession early in the second half before Alex Thomas's equaliser took the game into extra time.

Banbury & District were handed a walkover by Gloucester in the English Schools' FA Under 15 Trophy second round.

They are now at home to Slough on a date to be arranged.

Mid Oxon take on Oxford in the third round at Carterton FC next Tuesday (7.30).