MALVERN Town and Westfields fought out a tense goalless draw at the Langland Stadium on Tuesday night.

MALVERN TOWN 0, WESTFIELDS 0

With both sides harbouring Express & Star West Midlands League Premier Division title ambitions, it was no surprise that there was little to choose between the two teams, in a game where chances were at a premium.

Despite Westfields having the better of the opening exchanges, it was Town who should have taken the lead when Des Cox worked a great position for himself, but fired wide with only Jon Pugh in the Westfields goal to beat.

Westfields almost took the lead themselves after just ten minutes, but Derek Craddock saw his header come back off the crossbar.

During the remainder of the half any attempts on goal tended to be from distance, with Dean Whittall- Williams firing over for Malvern and Ray Jordan doing likewise for the visitors.

Gradually the Malvern midfield three of Rick Halion, Craig Williams and Whittal-Williams began to stifle their Westfields counterparts and Town finished the first half marginally on top.

The second half continued where the first left off, with chances few and far between, but with Town probably just shading the battle, despite never really extending Pugh in the Westfields goal.

In a game where there were a number of yellow cards, West-fields defender Scott Jackson was dismissed in the 75th minute for dissent, but Malvern could not make their advantage pay and spurned their best chance of the game with 10 minutes remaining, when Dean Roberts headed wide from point blank range.

Town general manager Richard Anson said, "I don't think either side will be too disappointed with the result, although Westfields are probably the happier of the two teams having been reduced to ten men.

"A lot of people are tipping Westfields for honours this season and rightly so, but I think we proved that we too are capable of contending as well."