MALVERN'S Midland Alliance championship hopes took a nose-dive after a dominant half-hour before the break saw them take a deserved lead.

MALVERN TOWN 2, COALVILLE TOWN 3

In the 15th minute, Knight's free-kick saw Coalville's Danny Geary rise to head home. Malvern hit back with Nathan Jukes and Lee Tomkins striking the woodwork.

Coalville were lucky to have 11 men still on the field as Russell, who had already been booked, was allowed to get away with some poor tackles.

Malvern deservedly equalised on 30 minutes. Following a goal-mouth scramble, Brown handled in the box and Nathan Jukes scored from the spot.

Mark Shepherd then missed a chance to put Malvern in front but he soon made amends. Jukes' inch-perfect ball to Tomkins was headed down for Shepherd to give Malvern the lead.

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

Malvern retaliated and good work by Mark Owen set up Tomkins but his header powered against the cross-bar. With time running out, sloppy defending allowed Tanner to break clear and he set up Warner for a tap-in.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Malvern Town are away at Oadby Town (3.00).

On Tuesday Malvern Town defeated Bromyard Town away 0-1 in the semi-final of the Worcester Infirmary Cup.

Dave Cannon scored Town's third-minute goal in a fairly low-key game.