MALVERN Town progressed to the second round of the Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup and a home tie with Alveston, following this comfortable victory at Droitwich on Saturday.

DROITWICH SPA 1, MALVERN TOWN 5

Town, who were without the holidaying Dean Roberts, also decided not to risk Craig Williams (cold) and Dave Cannon (knee), but still proved too strong for their Midland Combination Second Division hosts.

A spirited opening from the home side caused Town one or two uncomfortable moments and with a little bit more composure in front of goal, Droitwich might even have taken the lead. Despite this, Town keeper Pete Nightingale was never seriously tested.

Indeed it was Town who came closest to scoring when Adam Baldwin's 25-yard volley in the 20th minute was brilliantly tipped on to the crossbar by the home keeper.

Five minutes later Lee Hooper saw a goalbound effort come back off a post, but the inevitable goal came in the 28th minute when Scott Morris set up Rik Halion, who fired home from just inside the area.

Town took their foot off the gas a little after this, but Nathan Owen twice went close for Malvern in the five minutes immediately prior to half time.

The second half was a very different affair, as Town's superior fitness and movement started to tell.

Des Cox kept his cool to extend their lead in the 51st minute and, just eight minutes later, an excellent Gary Smith cross was converted by Phil Haines who made an assured first start for Malvern.

Droitwich kept plugging away and had a goal ruled out for offside in the 66th minute and secured a consolation strike with a well-taken goal in the 70th minute.

However, this proved to be the cue for Town to up the stakes again and Morris should have converted a point-blank header in the 77th minute. But Town's leading scorer inevitably made his mark on the proceedings, when he powerfully headed home a superb Haines cross in the 81st minute.

With Malvern now in total control, Morris grabbed his second goal and his side's fifth in the 87th minute. The goal came after Town were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area and, as the home side were organising their wall, the quick-thinking Hooper slipped the ball to Morris who fired home to complete a comfortable victory.