TIPTON TOWN 2, MALVERN TOWN 8

MALVERN Town turned on the style in their Banks's Brewery Premier League game against Tipton Town on Saturday running out 2-8 winners with young striker Andy Shepherd grabbing four of the goals.

Malvern opened strongly and on 13 minutes took the lead when Micky Lowe picked out Andy Shepherd with a superb through ball and Shepherd beat his marker before squaring the ball for Paul Ashby to side foot home.

On 23 minutes Malvern increased their lead when Darren Wade powerfully headed home a Steve Walker corner.

Malvern continued to take the game to Tipton and after a couple of near misses pulled further in front when panic in the defence allowed Andy Shepherd to collect the ball and score with ease.

Malvern got complacent for a period and on the stroke of half time Tipton reduced the arrears when Neil Taylor spotted Ross Sanders off his line and executed a perfect shot over his head.

Before the travelling supporters had finished their interval cup of tea Malvern increased their lead to 1-4 when an inswinging corner by Steve Walker was back headed at the near post by Sean Cotterill for Andy Shepherd to head home.

Back came Tipton and on 51 minutes reduced the deficit again when Craig Philips made ground down the left before crossing superbly to the far post where Wayne Thornton was on hand unmarked to head past Sanders.

This spurred Malvern on again and four minutes later another perfect corner by Steve Walker was powerfully headed home by Andy Shepherd to complete his hat-trick. On 59 minutes Tipton almost reduced the lead but Micky Lowe was on hand to head a Chris Hunter effort off the line and from the resultant corner Craig Philips struck a first time shot but this time Nick Clayton was on hand to clear of the line to safety.

Malvern went back onto the attack and a fine cross by Clayton was headed goalwards by Adam Ward but it was collected by home goalkeeper Neil Smith.

On 73 minutes however Malvern did increase their advantage when Andy Shepherd cleverly chipped Smith after he had been played through by Darren Wade.

In the 78th minute Malvern further increased their lead when a corner by Clayton was superbly headed home by sub Mark Hadley.

By this time Tipton were finished and with two minutes left the rout was completed when Shepherd played the ball across the box for Paul Ashby to finish clinically.

Malvern: Sanders, Chadwick, Cotterill, Lowe, Walker (Bastock), Wade (Hadley), Maidment, Whittal-Williams (Ward), Clayton, Ashby, Shepherd.