MALVERN Town turned in an excellent performance at home to second-placed Wolverhampton Casuals in the Express and Star, West Midlands League, Premier Division on Saturday and were well worth their 2-1 success, indeed the final score flattered their high flying visitors, who might have been on the end of a much heavier reverse.

MALVERN TOWN 2, WOLVERHAMPTON CASUALS 1

Man of the match for Town was young striker Dean Roberts, who bagged two goals on his home debut, but amongst a number of excellent performances was that of Wes Joyce, signed from Moor Green, just the day before the game and who partnered Roberts in the Town attack.

Both Roberts and Joyce created endless problems for the visiting defence and it was hardly a surprise when the visiting 'keeper miscued straight against the oncoming Roberts in the 15th minute, leaving the former Evesham striker the simple chance of tapping the ball into an unguarded net.

Casuals, who forays into the Malvern half were few and far between, stunned the home crowd when they equalised in the 25th minute, but it was an excellent 25 yard strike that gave Dave Alden no chance in the home goal.

Town continued to press, and Roberts deservedly restored his sides lead when he blasted the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the six yard box, in the 39th minute.

The second period should have belonged to Neil Mogford. Immediately after the break Mogford was unlucky to see his shot come back off the foot of the post and then having been set up by Roberts, blazed high over the bar when a goal looked inevitable.

In the 70th minute, Joyce superbly fed Mogford, but this time the keeper saved in a one on one situation.

Between times Roberts and Joyce worked good openings for themselves but could not grab that vital third goal however, the only real chance created by Casuals, came in the 79th minute, but despite having two players unmarked at the far post, a weak header went tamely over Aldens crossbar, and with it went any hopes Casuals might have harboured of getting a result.

Town boss Joey Rawle said: "Although Dean and Wes did well, it was a good team performance, we were solid at the back and competitive in midfield, we now need to build on this result and set ourselves a target of a top six place at least."