Spoiling tactics foil Town

MALVERN Town had to settle for a point in this dour Banks's Brewery League Premier Division fixture at the Langland Stadium on Saturday.

To be fair it was the visitors uncompromising tactics and persistent use of the offside trap that did little to enliven the game as a spectacle even resorting to time wasting before the first half had been concluded.

Additionally, weak refereeing supported the Dudley cause as a number of incidents that would have caused a flurry of cards on another day went unpunished.

Despite this Town did not show the attacking style that has highlighted

recent performances, but still might have taken a 20th minute lead when Paul Ashby fired over from the edge of the six yard box, youngster John Williams, who had an otherwise excellent full debut, also fired over when well placed minutes later.

A Joe Maidment effort from the edge of the box was the next best 'Town effort just before half time.

The second period saw little difference with Dudley hardly mounting a worthwhile attack, and on the rare occasions they did find a way through Ross Sanders in the home goal dealt comfortably with anything the visitors had to throw at him.

'Towns best hopes of a goal came mainly from the pace of Paul Ashby, but when Town did get behind the visitors defence they were either guilty of over elaboration or a poor final ball.

Despite this they still might have gone ahead in the 65th minute when Ashby fired well wide despite creating a good position for himself and Steve Walker might have done better with a 70th minute free kick that sailed over the bar.

As Town continued to press Dene Whittal-Williams, Malvern's outstanding performer on the day, saw a 20 yard drive go narrowly wide in the 85th minute and on the stroke of full time a seemingly goal bound effort from Andy Shepherd was frantically scrambled away for a corner.

So all in all a frustrating afternoon for 'Town but their were one or two plusses notably the encouraging debut of John Williams and another sound defensive display that saw the back four rarely looking troubled.

Malvern Town: Sanders, Chadwick, Walker, Cotterill, Lowe, Williams, Maidment, Whittal-Williams ( D Wade), Clayton, Shepherd, Ashby. Subs not used: Perrins, Bastock.

Town Assistant Manager Richard Anson,commenting on the game said: "It was exactly the sort of game we expected. As I said in last Friday's Gazette, Dudley do not let many goals in and they seem to becoming draw specialists.

"However,the performance of John Williams was a real bonus and we rarely looked like conceding, also if you look at our three league games this year then most people would have settled for a seven points out of nine, it is just the mix that was a little different than we expected."

Tomorrow (Saturday) Town are at home again when Bustlehome visit the Langlands (3pm) for another league fixture and welcome back John Wade, Phil Slade and Adam Moss, all of whom have finished suspensions.

Anson said: "It will be an interesting selection this weekend as the team have done well despite the absence of these players, Ross particularly has done well in goal."

Manager Joey Rawle will select from:

Sanders, Chadwick, Cotterill, Lowe, Clayton, Walker, Wade D., Wade J., Maidment, Whittal-Williams, Ashby, Perrins, Bastock, Shepherd, Slade and Williams.

Malvern Reserves were without a game last Saturday, but this Saturday visit Hinton for a Banks Brewery League Division One South fixture.