LIKE Westfields the previous week, Malvern Town were held to a draw by relegation-threatened Walsall Wood, in the Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division on Saturday.

WALSALL WOOD 1, MALVERN TOWN 1

Town could have few complaints about the result, as it was not until Duane Donovan had given the home side the lead in the 62nd minute, that Town began to play anywhere near as well as they are capable.

During a languid first period, Town were rarely threatened by their lowly hosts, although Mervyn Watson did save well from Donovan in the 20th minute.

But similarly Malvern, despite enjoying the lion's share of possession, created barely a handful of chances themselves.

Dean Roberts was denied by a fine save from the home goalkeeper and a John Walton header was cleared off the line.

The best chance fell to Des Cox right on the stroke of half time, but with the goal at the Town striker's mercy, he somehow put the ball over the bar.

The second period followed a similar pattern, although Donovan was a constant threat with some intelligent running that caused the Malvern defence more problems than it should have had.

On the balance of play Malvern did not deserve to fall behind, but it was perhaps not a total surprise that they did. The goal came after Dean Roberts was bundled off the ball deep into the home side's half and the ball was quickly played upfield into the path of Donovan, who was allowed far too much time and space as he drilled the ball past the helpless Watson.

Ironically, this was the wake up call Town needed. In the 70th minute Luke Willetts outpaced the home defence, to chip the ball over the home keeper and level the scores.

Town were now camped out in the home half, and three times the Walsall goalkeeper saved superbly, twice from Dean Roberts and then from Nathan Owen.

Willetts then saw a lob scrambled off the line and Town thought a Rik Halion header was over the line in the 83rd minute, but both the referee and linesman waved play on.

Willetts should have secured the three points in the 86th minute, but despite being clean through, he shot tamely at the keeper, who made a comfortable save. In the final minute, Dean Roberts fired wide having broke free.

Town boss Neil Hunt said after the game: "Although we had enough opportunities in the final 20 minutes to get all three points, you have to earn the right to succeed, and in the first 70 minutes we failed to do that."