MALVERN Town remain head of the Harvey World Travel Midland Alliance without playing at the top of their game on Saturday at Langland Stadium.

MALVERN TOWN 3, BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS 2

On a glue-pot of a pitch, Malvern struggled early on to get going and the nearest they got to a goal was a header by Walker just clearing the bar. But on 23 minutes, some good work by Rik Halion, once again the pick of the midfield, picked out Lee Tomkins to head home from six yards.

Boldmere responded and a 25-yard shot from Grosvenor hit the bar before Clarke brilliantly saved Mark Shepherd's header from Darren Bullock's cross.

Malvern's defence then got in a right tangle and Jimmy Quiggan scored from close range to equalise.

Malvern had a great chance to increase their lead at the start of the second-half when Phil Preedy was felled in the box but Bullock's penalty cleared the hedge behind the goal.

Malvern went in search of another goal, Halion's pass to Preedy saw his shot deflected for a corner then on 65 minutes, Bullock's 30-yard quick free-kick picked out Tomkins, who headed the ball back to Owen to head home from six yards.

Smith had a decent chance to equalise but headed wide. Once again Malvern seemed to sit back and invite Boldmere back in and that's just what happened when Grosvenor cut in from the left and curled a great shot into the top corner.

Once again Malvern responded, Owen's effort was cleared off the line, then with time running out, on 86 minutes Preedy's corner was cleared back to him. He crossed to the far post where Mark Shepherd bundled the ball in to give Malvern the three points.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Malvern face an important league fixture when they visit Romulus (3.00), and on Tuesday they visit Leamington (7.45).