MALVERN Town travel to rivals Ledbury Town on Wednesday (February 5) in the second round of the West Midlands Premier Division Cup (7.45).

Ledbury qualified for the second round, courtesy of a 9-1 win at home to Gornal on Wednesday night and would have appeared to have returned to their form of a month ago after defeating Smethwick 5-0 away last Saturday.

But prior to that game, third placed Malvern Town visit Brierley Hill tomorrow (Saturday) and will be confident about picking up another three points, having already defeated the Halesowen Harriers- based outfit twice this season, 2-1 in the FA Vase and 7-1 in the West Midlands Premier Division.

However, Brierley Hill are on a decent run of form at present and Town do have one or two injury worries. Craig Williams injured a thigh muscle, which caused him to be substituted in last Saturday's 6-4 victory at Wolverhampton Casuals, whilst goalkeeper Melvyn Watson is carrying a similar injury. Midfielder Mark Johnson also damaged a knee in the same game, but all three players are expected to be fit for Saturday's match.

Also, new signing from Bromyard, defender Andy Chalmers, is included in the squad for the first time.

However, Malvern will be missing Rik Halion, who is away on a short holiday.

Meanwhile, teenage striker Lee Hooper continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury in the Reserves this Saturday, but is expected to reclaim his first team squad place within the next couple of weeks.

Town boss Neil Hunt said: "Last Saturday proved how potent we are going forward at the moment, but our defensive play left a lot to be desired.

"It might be that we change things around a little bit for Saturday's game and the signing of Chalmers, does give us another option at the back."

Hunt will select from: Watson, Williams, Chalmers, Cannon, Clayton, Leighton, Walker, Walton, Johnson, Palmer, Owen, Roberts, Jones, Cox, Willetts and Rose.

Reserves at home

THE Town Reserves picked up a point in a 1-1 home draw with Leominster Town last Saturday, Peter Rose was the Town scorer.

The Reserves will be hoping to extend a run which has only seen them lose once in their last six games, when they entertain Hinton at the Langland Stadium this Saturday in the Express and Star West Midlands League Southern Division (2.45pm).

The U18s went down 1-0 to an 85th minute goal against Castle Vale, in a Midland Youth League match at the Langland Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Town youngsters will be hoping for better luck, when they entertain Wellington in the Midland Youth League next Tuesday (7.45pm).

There was better news for the U17s, playing in the Worcester County FA U18 Cup on Sunday, Town won through to the final following a 5-1 success away to Bromyard Town. The Malvern scorers were Olly Endicott, Rob Jarvis, Luke Marchant, Paul Edwards and Andy Fletcher.