MALVERN Town entertained Skelmersdale FC at the Langland Stadium in the third round of the FA Vase on Saturday and after a bright opening eventually lost 1-3 to their opponents from Lancashire.

MALVERN TOWN 1, SKELMERSDALE FC 3

(After extra time)

There were plenty of chances for Town to take the lead in the first half. After just five minutes Craig Heaney laid a great ball to Nathan Jukes who saw his shot hit the crossbar and fly out of play. Des Cox went on a run beating two defenders but got closed down by a third before he could get his shot away.

Duncan Preedy was next to set up Jukes on the edge of the box but his powerful shot was hit straight at keeper Robbie Holcroft and Jukes then hit the crossbar for the second time - all in the first 12 minutes.

At the other end Carl Osman was finding space on the left wing, beating defenders and crossing in some dangerous ball and midfielder Steve Dee had a nice run but his shot was wide of the target. Malvern's back four worked well together, backing one another up and laying the ball off into space giving little opportunities to Skelmersdale's Stuart Rudd and Lee Thompson, the latter getting needlessly booked for raising his foot to Dave Cannon just after giving away a free kick.

Duncan Preedy showed a nice turn of speed, pushing the ball past a defender and easily outstripping him to put in one of four or five good crosses in the first half. Rudd had two good chances before the interval but goalie Paul Wyatt was well-placed to make comfortable saves.

The game livened up in the second half when Skelmersdale's Osman beat the offside trap and he ran unopposed before side-footing the ball past Wyatt for the game's opening goal. Within five minutes Des Cox charged down a defender's clearance and he was first to respond as the ball ran loose, beating both the defender and Holcroft to fire the ball home to draw Town level.

As the players tired a little, the game got stretched from end to end and a number of chances materialised. Simon Judge and John Brownrigg both got booked for what looked an innocuous tackle and this was followed by a third booking when Osman clattered into Jukes. Craig Heaney went close from five yards out and just before full time he had another chance but headed straight at Holcroft.

As the game went into extra time a number of chances were created at either end. With seven minutes gone Dave Cannon headed the ball back to keeper Wyatt, who was put under pressure from Lee Thompson and the ball slipped through the keeper's fingers into the net.

Skelmersdale's heads rose and Town struggled to stay in the game. The visitors won a corner which was headed on to the far post by Osman, and as Rich Tompkins tried to clear the ball, he sliced it into the net for a 1-3 deficit. Town tried to respond but Skelmersdale held out to the final whistle.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Malvern Town return to Midland Alliance duty and entertain Quorn at Langland Stadium. Kick-off is 3pm.