MALVERN Town maintained their six point advantage at the top of the Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division, following this emphatic success at Newport on Saturday.

NEWPORT 1, MALVERN TOWN 6

Town opened the scoring as early as the first minute, when Nick Clayton played in Dean Roberts, who coolly lobbed the home goalkeeper to give his side the lead.

Malvern extended their lead just 15 minutes later when a Nathan Jukes free kick eluded everyone before nestling in off the far post.

The second half saw the home side put Town under considerable pressure, but a missed penalty in the 50th minute stalled their hopes of getting back into the game.

Five minutes later defender Dave Cannon rubbed salt into Newport's wound when he fired home from a Craig Williams corner to register a rare goal.

Minutes later Kristian Slade pulled a goal back for the home side and a missed opportunity in the 62nd minute might have made things very uncomfortable for Malvern.

But when Phil Preedy set up Roberts to score in the 70th minute the contest was as good as over.

A brilliant Rik Halion strike in the 75th minute followed by a Des Cox tap in just four minutes later saw Malvern continue to set the pace in what is turning out to be an absorbing title challenge.

After the game Town boss Neil Hunt said: "It was a strange game and even though we cannot be disappointed with a 6-1 victory, Newport actually made the game harder for us than the scoreline suggests."