MALVERN travelled to Redditch on Saturday for a league fixture against Bromsgrove anticipating a close match.

BROMSGROVE LADIES 7, MALVERN LADIES 3

Malvern's injury problems were in evidence again as they were a player and goalkeeper short. Having forgotten to bring her shin-pads, Michelle Hickman was pressed to play in goal and had balls hit at her from all parts of the ground.

With so many gaps around the pitch this match was always going to be about who could move the ball efficiently and the home side were first to learn the lesson.

Following some skilful stick work and slick passing, Bromsgrove used the extra player to great effect and were rewarded with an early goal. Only then did Malvern wake up and start to move the ball. Nicky Forecast, showing skill and determination beyond her tender years, latched on to a long ball in from Sarah Hopkins and slotted home to level the scores.

The visitors were unlucky not to take the lead after a great effort from Kerry Tudge was stopped on, but not beyond the goal line. Two further goals from the home side could not dampen Malvern's spirit and Forecast this time displayed her quality dribbling skills to fashion another goal leaving an upbeat Malvern side only 3-2 down at half-time.

The visitor's roared out of the traps knowing that they must get an early goal if they were to have any hope of rescuing the situation but indiscipline led to a series of penalty corners which were poorly defended and resulted in Bromsgrove scoring two soft goals.

Tired legs prevented the Malvern midfielders from covering back as Bromsgrove asserted themselves and scored again. Malvern did get a consolation goal through the experienced Kerry Tudge making a welcome return to the midfield but this was cancelled out in the dying moments as Bromsgrove scored again to run out convincing winners.

Nicky Forecast was deservedly declared to be Malvern's man of the match.

KYNOCK 16, MALVERN 1

MALVERN men's side travelled up to North Birmingham on Saturday afternoon to play Kynoch.

Malvern's lack of experience showed as Kynoch passed the ball quickly around and past the Malvern players, who were reduced to ten and then briefly nine players due to injuries..

Kynoch then used the advantage of having an extra player and quickly began to find the back of the net and Malvern were down 6-0 by half time.

Malvern started the second half positively and Gerwyn Legg got in a strike from the top of the circle resulting in Malvern's only goal before they tired.

The final score ending up as 16-1.