MALVERN Town extended their lead at the top of the Express and Star West Midlands Premier Division table to seven points, following a second successive win against Heath Hayes at the Langland Stadium on Saturday.

MALVERN TOWN 2, HEATH HAYES 1

Town's quick fire double was achieved in almost the same circumstances as last Saturday, when Malvern had to come back from a goal behind to secure the points. With equal irony, it was last weeks match winner, Luke Willetts, who sent the Town faithful home happy with a well-taken strike in the 68th minute that followed Nathan Owen's equaliser just five minutes earlier.

Earlier, the first half was a well contested affair, although neither side created that much in the way of clear cut opportunities. The closest Malvern came to opening the scoring was a Rik Halion header that was cleared off the line in the 23rd minute, whilst in the 32nd minute Scott Morris was denied by Hayes goalkeeper Karl Ward in a one-on-one situation.

At other end, new signing Adam Moss was never seriously extended in the home goal, with the visitors main threats coming from set pieces, but what he had to do, he did well.

The visitors best opportunity came in the 34th minute, when a header hit the crossbar.

The start of the second period saw Heath Hayes put Malvern under an increasing amount of pressure and looked the likelier of the two sides to take the lead, indeed this is exactly what happened in the 54th minute, when their leading goalscorer Richard Hewitt latched on to a through ball and fired an unstoppable shot past Moss.

Ironically this served as the wake-up call Town needed, and just nine minutes later, Nathan Owen found himself with time and space in the area to blast a shot into the roof of the net to secure his side's equaliser. Malvern were now right back on song and started to lay siege on the Heath Hayes goal, and it did not take long for Town to score their second and ultimately decisive goal.

Just five minutes after Owen's strike, Luke Willetts just beat the on rushing Ward to a through ball and his touch was sufficient to slip the ball into an unguarded net.

Heath Hayes tried to press in the closing stages, but Town held the ball up well in forward positions and their back three of Pete Roberts, Andy Chalmers and Nick Clayton rarely allowed the visitors another look in.

Town boss Neil Hunt said: "We were not really at our best for the first hour, but part of that must go down to the visitors, who look a strong, well organised side.

"But it was funny really, as just before we equalised, I said it looks like we might have to go a goal down to get us going and that is exactly what happened. Overall though, it has been a real bonus to get six points against a decent outfit and it is up to us now to keep the momentum going."