MALVERN slipped to their first Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division defeat since October, when Wayne Aston fired Tividale's winner deep into injury time.

TIVIDALE 3, MALVERN TOWN 2

Aston's strike came just two minutes after Dean Roberts looked to have secured Town a point with an 89th minute equaliser.

Earlier Town had taken the lead after 15 minutes, when Des Cox fed Luke Willetts and the Town striker outpaced a static home defence to give his side the lead.

Indeed, Town might have increased their lead on a number of occasions, the closest being when Cox saw an effort headed off the line.

In the 30th minute Town suffered a blow, when the influential Craig Williams had to go off with a knee injury, after which Town lost some of their cohesion and Luke Reynolds took full advantage to secure an equaliser for the home side in the 33rd minute.

After the break Tividale increased the pressure and Melvyn Watson in the Malvern goal had to be alert on a number of occasions to deny Tividale the lead.

But Malvern too might have taken the lead, and Willetts was unlucky to see an excellent chip headed off the line, Roberts also volleyed over when well placed

It was the home side who took the lead, when Reynolds headed home powerfully at the far post in the 65th minute.

During a frantic final five minutes, Roberts' strike looked to have earned Malvern a valuable point, but when a quick free kick deep into the Tividale half was needlessly played into the path of a home player, the ball was quickly swept upfield and substitute Aston did the rest.

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