MALVERN Town travelled to Midland Combination side West Midlands Police in the first qualifying round of this year's FA Vase and returned home comfortable 3-1 winners.

WEST MIDLANDS POLICE 1, MALVERN TOWN 3

Malvern opened strongly and after only five minutes a good cross from the right by Duncan Preedy was headed just over by Scott Morris. Malvern continued to press and in the 12th minute Rik Halion's through ball found Scott Morris, who shot into the side netting.

However in the 15th minute Malvern took the lead when another Duncan Preedy cross found Des Cox who stroked the ball past West Midlands Police's keeper Ronald Harvey.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0 when the ball was threaded though to Scott Morris to slide the ball home from just inside the box.

Malvern were completely dominant at this stage and it was no surprise when a clearance was charged down by Scott Morris and the loose ball ran to Des Cox to drill home his second goal.

Tom Smith was quick to spot the Malvern defence napping at the start of the second half to pull a goal back for the Police on 48 minutes.

This spurred Malvern into action and in the 55th minute keeper Harvey tipped over a Nathan Jukes cross. A minute later Des Cox side-footed over and two minutes later, following good work by Nathan Jukes and Phil Preedy, Scott Morris shot over the bar.

In the 77th minute keeper Harvey brought off another fine save to deny Phil Preedy a certain goal.

Malvern took their foot off the pedal after this, content to hold out for a comfortable victory and looking forward to another away trip to Heath Hayes, from the West Midlands (Regional) Premier Division, in the second qualifying round.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Malvern travel to Stoke on Trent to play Biddulph Victoria. Kick off 3pm.

Malvern are without Darren Bullock (suspended), Dave Alden and Des Cox (holiday), Nathan Jukes and Nick Clayton (unavailable) and Dean Roberts, who picked up an ankle injury in the defeat at Stourbridge and is likely to be out for a couple of weeks.

Malvern choose from: Moss, Chalmers, Cannon, Jones, Heaney, Smith, Halion, Preedy (D), Preedy (P), Morris, Deacon, James, Endacott, Tomkins (R) and Lambert.

Malvern return to Langland Stadium on Tuesday (September 21) when Alvechurch are the visitors in a Travel Factory Midland Football Alliance game. Kick off 7.45pm.