MALVERN Town wound up a satisfactory pre-season programme when they defeated fancied Hellenic Premier Division outfit Carterton Town at the Langland Stadium on Saturday.

MALVERN TOWN 1, CARTERTON 0

Town had to thank Gary Abercrombie for their success, who having done much to turn the game their way, notched an 89th minute winner following excellent work from Darren Wade and Richard Congrave.

It was Wade who started the move with a superb cross field pass to Congrave,who outpaced a wilting and outnumbered Carterton defence before cooly slipping the ball to Abercrombie who made no mistake from point blank range.

It was really no more than Town deserved as Simon Judge, Andy Shepherd and Congrave all might have given the home side a second half lead prior to Abercrombie's strike.

However, it was a little different in the first period as defences held the ascendancy.

Town,s best chance fell to Phil Slade who blasted over an empty goal after just 10 minutes and keeper Ross Sanders ensured Town kept a clean sheet when he saved superbly from Andy Leach's fierce far post header.

However, the half time introductions of Abercrombie, Shepherd, Phillpots and Wade seemed to give Town more purpose and movement and ultimately proved decisive.

Malvern Town: Sanders, Higgins (Hadley), Cotterill, Damore (Bastock), Walker, Slade (D Wade), Brooks (Abercrombie), Ward (Brooks), Thomas (Phillpots), Congrave (Shepherd), Judge (Congrave).

Tomorrow (Saturday) Town have a tough looking visit to Tividale (3pm), in their opening Banks Brewery League Premier Division fixture.

Manager Joey Rawle has one or two selection problems as Adam Ward and Ross Sanders are unavailable and it is unlikely that Nick Clayton will return from Honeymoon in time to claim a place in the squad. However, Joe Maidment returns and Adam Moss, who has been sharing the pre-season goalkeeping duties with Sanders will obviously play.

Commenting on the game, Town Assistant Manager Richard Anson said: "We would have liked to have selected from a full squad, but Joe is a more than adequate replacement for Adam and it was a toss up anyway between Adam Moss and Ross as to who got the goalkeeping jersey.

We have also had the bonuses of Dave Damore, Mark Brooks and Gary Abercrombie, all of whom are in serious contention for a place in the starting line up, as is Martin Phillpots who has regained his appetite for football at

this level and was outstanding when he came on against Carterton on Saturday.

We know Tividale will give us a hard time tomorrow, but we expect that and if we can match their undoubted commitment, we know we have enough quality in the squad to come away with three points".

Manager Joey Rawle will select from: Moss, Higgins, Cotterill, Damore, Walker, D Wade, Brooks, Maidment, Phillpots, Judge, Shepherd, Congrave, Thomas, Slade, Bastock and Abercrombie.

On Tuesday Town open their home League programme,when Lye Town will be the

visitors (7.45pm).Both Nick Clayton and Adam Ward will return for this game.

Town have announced that Season Tickets are still available, priced at £55 for adults and £22 for children and Senior Citizens. These are now even better value as the League has been increased to 23 clubs following the re instatement of the previously relegated Walsall Wood.

Anyone purchasing a ticket on Tuesday night will have the cost of admission (now set at £2.50 by the League), taken off the price.

Malvern Town Reserves despatched Badsey United 7-1 on Saturday, with Les Hutchinson notching a hat-trick. But lost their final pre season game 1-0 when Inkberrow visited the Langland Stadium on Tuesday night. The Reserves though had a good pre season and open their Banks Brewery League Division One (S) campaign tomorrow (Saturday) when Chaddersley Corbett visit Malvern (3pm).