MALVERN Town, with several key players missing for Saturday's game, got off to the worst possible start conceding a goal after only four minutes from Stratford's Nicky Heath, easily lobbing the helpless Moss in Malvern's goal to put the visitors ahead.

MALVERN TOWN 2, STRATFORD TOWN 1

However this didn't deter Malvern's enthusiasm and on 15 minutes they were level when a Scott Morris through ball sent Phil Preedy away to round the keeper and slide the ball into an empty net.

The game then went into a stalemate as both defences got on top, but Stratford should have taken the lead when they beat the Malvern off-side trap for a one-on-one with keeper Moss, who saved brilliantly low to his left.

Then with the game looking set for a draw, a mix up between centre half Evans and his goalkeeper, both leaving the ball for each other, let in the lively Preedy to round the keeper and tap into an empty net for his second of the game and Malvern's winner.

Town's league fixture on Tuesday evening (August 24) at Romulus had to be postponed due to ground-sharing problems at the Sutton Coldfield-based club. A new date is still to be fixed.