MALVERN Town's Midland Alliance title hopes took a nose-dive after a 3-2 home defeat by Coalville Town.

They fell behind on 15 minutes when Knight's free-kick saw Danny Geary rise unmarked to head home powerfully.

Malvern retaliated with Nathan Jukes and Tomkins both hitting the woodwork.

Coalville were lucky to have 11 men as Russell, already booked, was allowed to get away with some bad tackles.

Malvern deservedly equalisd on 30 minutes following a goal mouth scramble.

Brown handled in the box and Jukes scored from the spot.

Mark Shepherd then missed the chance to put Malvern in front but soon made up for it by finishing after Tomkins headed down Jukes' pass.

Malvern simply were not the same team in the second-half and the writing was on the wall when Geary crossed for Ashley Warner's shot to creep under Craig Humphries.

Malvern retaliated and good work by Mark Owen set up Tomkins, but his header smacked against the crossbar.

With time running out, sloppy defending allowed Tanner to break clear to set up Warner who scored a tap-in.