MALVERN Town returned from the Black Country on Saturday with three Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division points, thanks to a 30th minute goal by youth team striker Steve Hancocks.

WOLVERHAMPTON UNITED 0, MALVERN TOWN 1

Hancocks, who has made one or two fleeting first team appearances from the bench, marked his first start for the Town with a goal worthy of winning any game.

Dean Roberts started the move with an excellent cross field ball which picked out Ricky Halion and his superb cross was met by Hancocks, who headed powerfully home for what was to prove to be the game's deciding goal.

Town held the upperhand in the first half, but chances for both sides were few and far between.

During the second half, with Town kicking up the slope, the home side came far more into the game, but a mixture of good defending, poor finishing and a brilliant point blank save from a header by Town keeper Dave Alden in the 85th minute, kept Malvern's lead intact.

GORNAL ATHLETIC 1, MALVERN TOWN 0

MALVERN Town went down to an 87th minute goal in a league game on Tuesday night.

Town's disappointment was Gornal's joy as their last gasp win in their final game virtually ensures their Premier Division survival.

In what was an even contest, both goalkeepers were in top form, with Town's Dave Alden pulling off three outstanding saves in the first half, whilst the home keeper was also at his best to twice deny Lee Hooper and save superbly from a Rick Halion header.

The second half saw Malvern start well and Dean Roberts was through when he had broken clear, but the referee denied Town the advantage, awarding instead a free kick for a foul on Halion.

The home side threw players forward in the final quarter and were unfortunate to see the ball come back off the post in a frantic goalmouth scramble, but the goal they were desperately seeking came with just three minutes left.

Alden again saved well but, as the Town defence failed to react to the second ball, a Gornal striker gleefully drove the ball past the helpless Alden.

Town still pressed in the closing moments and Sean Cotterill saw a last gasp header blocked on the line and cleared to safety.

Although Town were disappointed with this defeat, with nothing to play for but pride, Town boss Joey Rawle has still tried to use the period productively, giving further opportunities to some of Town's younger players.