MALVERN Town's hopes of lifting the Midland Alliance championship took another blow on Saturday against relegation-threatened Causeway United.

MALVERN TOWN 1, CAUSEWAY UNITED 3

The Langland Stadium outfit have lost five of their last six league matches and the once runaway leaders could now be caught by a couple of sides who have games in hand.

The match on Saturday got off to a slow start with the sides failing to find any rhythm but Malvern were stunned in the eighth minute when Andy Jones was given time and space to turn and fire past home keeper Humphries.

Malvern tried to retaliate with recent signing Andy Smith putting in some decent crosses but the home side lacked height and poise in front of goal as Causeway rode their luck at times.

Town's Willetts' fired wide, Lee Tomkins headed just over and keeper Siddaway saved Phil Preedy's shot with his legs.

Malvern had a great chance to equalise when Duncan Preedy was fouled in the box but skipper Darren Bullock's spot-kick crashed against the upright.

Early in the second-half, Causeway increased their lead when Liam Teraud rose to head home unchallenged from a Drakeley corner-kick.

Malvern were soon back in the game when a superb ball from Rich Tomkins sent Mark Shepherd clear and the striker rounded the keeper before firing home.

An equaliser looked likely as Malvern pushed forward and a shot from Luke Willetts' hit the post before being scrambled away to safety.

Then the inevitable happened, Ian Kirkham intercepted a Whittington pass and raced clear to put the match beyond doubt in the 85th minute, much to the dismay of the home supporters.

Although Malvern have had their worst run of results since gaining promotion, they still top the table and manager Neil Hunt believes they can still lift the championship.

He said: "Everyone was telling us that we had already won the title and in the end we thought we had as well.

"Now we know we will be in a battle to the end and we need to stand up and be counted. We will soon see what we are made off."

Malvern Town have no game tomorrow (Saturday) but the reserves are scheduled to play Sporting Khalsa at Langland Stadium (2.45pm).

On Tuesday (February 21), Malvern Town are on league duty away at Cradley Town (7.45pm).