MALVERN lost their crucial relegation battle to a last minute penalty from Bromsgrove's prolific kicker Matt Birch.

Birch's penalty handed Bromsgrove a 25-24 victory and survival in Powergen Midlands One.

Malvern must hope Luctonians win their play-off and the effects of the cascade from National League Two to survive though it looks as though Midlands Two West beckons next season.

The game had been played in an atmosphere so tense that it often spilled over into fisticuffs, but Malvern had the best of the exchanges for long periods. Birch had put the Finstall park side ahead in the second minute with a penalty after a powerful forward drive.

But full back Andy Longley levelled the scores three minutes later and he dropped a goal to give Malvern the lead in the 13th minute.

Fellows hit back with a 20th minute try in the corner for Bromsgrove but Longley restored the lead after a high tackle on Dave King brought a penalty.

Bromsgrove began the second half with renewed vigour and a hoisted up and under was gathered by centre Ben Eason two minutes after the restart. Birch's conversion putting the home side 15-9 ahead.

Malvern centre Mark Eastwood powered through for a 52nd minute score, bringing them within a point of Bromsgrove's total.

Tempers frayed with Malvern prop James Daniell yellow-carded and Marc Gaubert to leave the visitors two men down.

But they made light of their absence to score through Sam Hardcastle in the 70th minute and five minutes later through Longley to put Malvern nine points ahead.

However Bromsgrove punished some loose tackling, allowing second row John Taylor in for a soft try at the end of normal time which Birch converted to take them only two points behind.

In injury time Bromsgrove won the fateful penalty and the referee immediately blew for time.

* Luctonians clinched runners up spot in Midlands One after a 38-3 demolition of struggling Walsall.

The Herefordshire side will go into a promotion play-off with Macclesfield from North One for a place in National Division Three North.

Full back Jeremy Wheadon was the star of the show claiming an 18 points haul including two tries.

Centre John Goodwin, Wheadon and flanker Simon Lewis helped Lucs to a 19-3 half time lead and the Kingsland side doubled their points tally after the break with tries from centre Roger Chilman, Wheadon and Steve Saint.

The play-off will take place at Kingsland on Saturday, April 26.

* Worcester Wanderers suffered a disappointing finish to their North Midlands One campaign with a crushing 22-3 defeat to third-placed Veseyans. The defeat, however, was irrelevant because the Sixways side look set to be promoted after clinching runners-up spot.

* Stourport went out in style with a 32-14 victory over Five Ways OE.

* Champions Solihull were too strong for Redditch winning 34-24 while Bromyard beat Woodrush 32-12.