MALVERN TOWN 1, TIPTON TOWN 2

MALVERN Town turned in a dismal performance on Saturday when mid-table Tipton Town were the visitors to Langland Stadium for a Banks's Brewery Premier League game.

Malvern looked just a shadow of the side that fought hard for a point at Little Drayton when they were reduced to nine men, but Saturday they threw three points away by showing very little enthusiasm and to make matters worse Tipton were reduced to ten men in the second half when, to everyone's amazement goalkeeper Neil Smith was shown the red card, for pulling down Darren Tafft in the box, an offence he had nothing to do with as it was striker Darren Hall who had committed the foul.

The game itself opened with Tipton going straight on to the attack and Malvern were at full stretch to keep the eager visitors at bay, this they did until the 23rd minute when Craig Philips and Rob Bastock chased a long ball from Neil Taylor toward the right hand corner flag, Philips won the chase before pulling the ball inside Bastock to leave him on his back side before delivering an inch perfect pass in to the path of Steve Ingram to side foot home past the helpless Adam Moss in the Town goal.

Even this did little to get Malvern motivated and on 30 minutes they were indebted to Moss when he superbly turned round the post a shot by Neil Taylor.

On 37 minutes a fine run by John Wade ended with a good ball to Steve Walker, who in turn, played Darren Tafft through but his weak shot was easily held by Tipton keeper Neil Smith.

On the stroke of half time, however, Malvern drew level when, from a free kick by Steve Walker, Sean Cotterill placed a glancing header past Smith into the net.

The second period got underway with Malvern starting to show signs of interest and on 58 minutes Darren Tafft, with a clear shot was brought down by Hall with a rugby tackle, the penalty was awarded and goalkeeper Smith was sent off! Craig Gibbons donned the keeper's jersey to face Tafft's penalty and he brought off a brilliant save diving right to punch clear.

This just about summed it all up and ten-man Tipton, aggrieved at the referee's decision, took the game by the scruff of the neck and twice Moss was called upon to make important saves but on 70 minutes could do nothing to stop a superb chip by Neil Taylor, whose effort entered the net via the underside of the bar.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Malvern Town entertain Northwest Counties League side Glossop North End in the second round of the FA Carlsberg Vase, kick off 3pm.