A BATTLING first-half performance by bottom three strugglers Biddulph Victoria was not enough at the Langland Stadium on Saturday.

MALVERN TOWN 2, BIDDULPH VICTORIA 0

Biddulph opened brightly and keeper Paul Wyatt had to be on his toes in the first 20 minutes.

Malvern's Simon Judge scraped the bar with a full-stretch header on 21 minutes.

Almost immediately, Phil Preedy jinked through the defence, only for keeper Steve Intihar to block with his legs.

Town continued to press and on 31 minutes, a fine ball from Chris Jones caught the visitors' defence flat footed but Duncan Preedy shot straight at Intihar.

At the other end, Lee Major won a corner on Town's right but Martin Heath's kick was plucked out of the air by Wyatt, under pressure from Tom Pope.

On 41 minutes, Town took the lead. Richard Tomkins took a short corner to Phil Preedy, who whipped in a low cross and Simon Judge rifled home.

Biddulph retaliated and Wyatt did well to block a Tom Pope effort for Pete Roberts to clear.

The second-half saw Malvern take complete control of possession, without creating many clear-cut opportunities.

When Biddulph did threaten, Nathan Jukes, Pete Roberts and Andy Chalmers stood firm.

In the final five minutes, the game came to life when Wyatt palmed a corner from Neil Preston over the bar and then brilliantly dived full-length to palm away a goal-bound effort.

Biddulph were undone by a Duncan Preedy ball over the top, which Dean Roberts took round the keeper to secure three welcome Midlands Alliance points.