THIRD-placed Stourbridge were the visitors to the Langland Stadium on Tuesday evening and came boasting the best strike record in the league, having scored 59 goals in 22 games.

MALVERN TOWN 2, STOURBRIDGE 1

Malvern had the better of the early exchanges, when in the first 20 minutes Phil Preedy created three openings to give Town the lead and defender Darren Bullock blasted over the crossbar twice, having got into good positions following corners.

Stourbridge worked themselves into the game and their nippy winger Jamie Rogers proved to be a constant threat down the left.

On 33 minutes Rogers ran the ball down to Town's by-line and this time picked out Matt Southwick who was lurking on the far post. He had the simplest of tasks heading home for the opening goal of the match.

With this lead Stourbridge played the better football and it was due to the hard work of Bullock, Cannon and Chalmers in defence that Stourbridge did not extend their lead.

With half-time approaching, Phil Preedy lost his marker yet again and unleashed a cracking shot which brought out an equally good save from Andy Higgs.

Early in the second half, play swung from end to end with numerous chances being created. Midfielder Chris Jones was called upon to make a last ditch tackle on the edge of Town's box denying Chris Homer, whilst at the other end Des Cox fired in a low hard shot, bringing out another excellent save from Higgs. On 67 minutes Cox went on a jinking run and squared the ball to Jones who side-footed home from close range to equalise.

Town grew in confidence and should have gone ahead when following a long clearance by Wyatt, the ball fell to Dean Roberts, but his first touch took the ball wide of the goal and the striker blasted over from a narrow angle

Stourbridge then won a corner and Jones was called upon to head off his line. As the ball came out to Simon March, he was disappointed to see his shot rebound off the crossbar and out of play. Shortly afterwards Rich Tompkins cleared a ball upfield to Phil Preedy who outpaced his marker and crossed to Roberts, who, bustled his way into a good position before hitting the back of the net to give Town a 2-1 lead.

In the dying minutes Stourbridge applied great pressure, going close twice, and Town were relieved to take all three points from this close encounter and move up into fourth place in the table.