RICK Halion's 66th minute goal was enough to secure all three points for Malvern Town in this Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division game at Ettingshall on Saturday.

ETTINGSHALL HT 0, MALVERN TOWN 1

But it was a hard earned victory for Town, who for much of the first half were pegged back in their own half against a home side which included ex-England non league international striker Joey O' Connor in their line up.

On a number of occasions new signing Melvyn Watson in the Town goal had to be at his best to keep Town in the game, although Dean Roberts was denied by the home keeper in the 21st minute and a Halion drive in the 30th minute came back off the crossbar.

After the break, Malvern came more into the game and had good appeals for a penalty turned down, when Billy Davis appeared to be upended in the box when clean through. It was Halion who grabbed the decisive strike when he netted a Nathan Owen cross.

The home side themselves had good appeals for a penalty turned down in injury time, when Dave Cannon appeared to impede O'Connor, but in response, Halion might have added a second goal for himself when he blazed wide, having been set up by Dean Roberts.

Although Town were never at their best, they still worked hard and deserved the points.

Town manager Neil Hunt said: "This was a very tough game and Ettinghshall certainly surprised us, indeed if it had not been for Melvyn, they might have had the game won by half time.

"But we rode our luck and came far more into the game after the break, in fact we pushed Ricky a little further forward at half time and it was pleasing that he grabbed the winning goal.

"Although we have won a few games with a bit of style over the last few weeks, we still need to be able scrap results out when we need to, and we proved we can do that today.

"It should not be forgotten that we were missing Dave Alden, Des Cox and Pete Roberts, who are all normally first choices."