MALVERN TOWN 4, LYE TOWN 2

MALVERN Town played host to Lye Town on Monday in a Banks's Brewery Premier League game.

Malvern started with a hangover from Saturday's semi-final defeat and within four minutes conceded a penalty for hands. Carl Maxon took the kick but, as on Saturday, Ross Sanders pulled off a superb save to keep the scoreline blank. Lye kept up the pressure and on eight minutes were awarded a corner. John Hume took the kick and Mark Bache was on hand to head home.

Malvern started to get their act together after this and a good move between Joe Maidment and John Williams ended with the latter playing a tremendous ball through for Dene Whittal-Williams to blast just wide.

Play was pretty even for a while but on the stroke of half time Lye increased their lead when a corner by Adrian Heathcock was headed home by Mark Bache at the near post.

After the break Malvern looked a much sharper outfit and on 56 minutes pulled a goal back when a fine cross by Nick Clayton was powered home by Whittal-Williams.

Six minutes later it was 2-2 when Whittal-Williams picked out Joe Maidment at the far post, he in turn pulled the ball back across the face of the goal, where Adam Ward dived full length to head home just inside the post.

This stopped the visitors in their tracks and the home side piled on the pressure with John Williams a constant threat with his energetic runs causing all kinds of problems for the visitors. On 75 minutes this pressure paid off when Nick Clayton burst into the box only to be impeded by Paul Probert pulling his shirt and the referee Mr Meeson, after consulting his assistant, awarded a penalty.

Mick Lowe took the kick and sent Lye keeper Shaun Healey the wrong way to put his side in front for the first time. Lye could not get going again and Malvern put the issue beyond doubt in the 88th minute when a corner by Steve Walker was powerfully headed home by Whittal-Williams to complete a gutsy fight back.

Malvern travel to play Wolverhampton Casuals tomorrow (Saturday), league leaders and champions elect Stafford Town on Bank Holiday Monday and high flying Causeway United on Wednesday before returning to Langland Stadium on Saturday, May 6 when they entertain Smethwick Rangers.