MALVERN Town secured a fourth successive Express and Star West Midland League Premier Division win, when they comfortably overcame Smethwick Rangers at the Langland Stadium on Saturday.

MALVERN TOWN 3, SMETHWICK RANGERS 1

The only real surprise was that it was not until Sean Cotterill's 77th minute strike, that Town secured victory in a game they should have had won by half-time.

From the kick off, Town were quickly in their stride and carved out opening after opening, with Dean Roberts threatening but being continually frustrated by Jaswinder Singh in the visitor's goal.

Indeed, it was Smethwick who almost snatched a shock lead when, on a rare attack, Dave Alden was well beaten by a 17th minute strike but was relieved to see the ball hit the post and rebound to safety.

Town went in front in the 21st minute when Tony Mclean set up Mark Taylor to sweetly volley home and register his first senior goal for the club.

Town continued to press, with Holmans, Roberts, Walker and Taylor again all going close to extending Malvern's lead. But in the 44th minute Malvern, not for the first time this season, fell for a sucker punch. Scrappy defending saw them concede a free kick on the edge of the box, which enabled the visitors to manufacture an excellent equaliser with a superbly placed direct free kick.

Straight after the break, Smethwick almost snatched the lead, but Town were indebted to Alden, who saved bravely from point blank range.

But as the half wore on a similar pattern to the first emerged, with the game turning on what had become an almost personal duel between Roberts and Singh in the Smethwick goal.

In the 58th minute Singh and Roberts challenged for a high ball and despite both players failing to make contact, the ball ended up in the back of the net. The referee however disallowed the 'goal' and Singh sought to take retribution out on Roberts, fortunately the young striker had the sense not to get involved. A minute later Roberts was put through and with Singh charging out of his goal, Roberts deftly lifted the ball over the keeper and into an unguarded net.

Shortly after this Roberts hit the post with a searing drive, but generally Malvern began to lose a little shape and the visitors still managed to give the Town back four one or two uncomfortable moments.

With just 13 minutes remaining, Taylor swung over a left wing corner, which was only partially cleared, the ball fell to Cotterill, who first effort was blocked, but in picking up the rebound, Town's popular centre back retained his poise to finish well and put the result beyond doubt.

MALVERN Town then slipped to a 2-1 home defeat against Shawbury United in the Express and Star West Midlands Premier Division on Easter Monday at Langland Stadium.

This was despite the visitors playing for the entire match with ten men after a car load of players failed to turn up at the ground!

Nick Clayton gave Town the lead ten minutes into the second half but Shawbury took the points with two goals in the last 20 minutes.