TOWN picked up a point at Heath Hayes in Mondays Banks's Brewery League Premier Division fixture.

HEATH HAYES 1, MALVERN TOWN 1

It was the least Town deserved as they were clearly the better of the two sides, but for an indifferent first half display which saw Town go behind thanks to a Dave Damore own goal.

Town always enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first half, but chances were few and far between for both sides and it was no surprise that it took a 32nd minute own goal to break the deadlock.

A Heath Hayes player crossed into the box, but with Damore and Town keeper Ross Sanders appearing to leave the ball to each other, Damore's last ditch reaction only served to deflect the ball off his knee and into his own goal.

Phil Slade had the best first half opportunity for Malvern when his powerful far post header from a pin point Martin Phillpotts cross, ended up in the side netting when a goal looked on the cards.

The second period saw Town start with much more resolution about them and Andy Shepherd twice went close with 20 yard drives before in the 57th minute Town got the goal they were threatening when Shepherd superbly chested down a Higgins cross and fired past a helpless Heath Hayes keeper.

From then it was all Town, with their best opportunity falling to Walker, who stormed into the box, only to see his fierce drive go agonisingly wide of the far post.

Town rode their luck in the 80th minute, when a miscued cross wrong footed Sanders, who was relieved to see the ball come back off the inside of the post and rebound to safety.

Town assistant manager Richard Anson said: "It certainly was not a classic, but our second half performance saw some of the desire that was missing on Saturday and in the first half return, hopefully this will now set us for a good finish, particularly as five of our last six games are at home.

"We can still claim a top five spot, which would mark our best ever finish in the Banks's Brewery League and if we can retain the Senior Urn as well, we can still look back on this as being a season of progress."

Malvern Town: Sanders, Higgins, Clayton, Dugdale, Damore, Sharma, Walker, Davies, Phillpotts, Slade, Shepherd(Ashby).

Town have no game tomorrow (Saturday) but visit Star on Wednesday (April 25) in yet another away Banks's Brewery League Premier Division fixture, kick-off 7.45pm.

Town Reserves are at home tomorrow (Saturday) in the Banks's Brewery League Division One (S). Hinton are the visitors (3pm).