MATT Turner kept his nerve late on to ensure Malvern Town took a point from their league encounter with Fairford Town at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium on Saturday.

The striker scored in the closing minutes to rescue a point for Town, who failed to close the gap on those at the top of the league

Turner's goal cancelled out Callum Langworthy's first-half penalty as The Hillsiders were forced to settle with a draw against a struggling Fairford side.

It was a tight affair which saw both sides create chances.

Malvern's Joe Bates and Dave Reynolds went close at one end whilst Peare could have given the visitors an earlier lead.

But Fairford did get their goal in the 34th minute when Peare was brought down in the box and referee Dan Ellis pointed to the spot.

Langworthy stepped up and calmly slotted it past Keiron Blackburn as they took the lead.

Reynolds had the ball in the back of the net before the break, but it was ruled out for offside and the striker curled a free-kick over the bar on the stroke of half-time as Malvern continued to seek a leveller.

It was proving to not be Reynolds' day in front of goal and in the second-half his shot from distance clipped the top of the bar.

Fairford came so close to doubling their lead as the half wore on when Peare hit the woodwork, before the ball was scrambled off the line.

Blackburn did well to block from Langworthy at one end before Reynolds saw another header drift just wide as Town desperately tried to get back into it.

Their reward finally came with the game almost up, as Curtis Smith's through ball found Turner in behind and he showed his composure to tuck it home.

In the end, not the result Town wanted but they at least avoided defeat.

They are next in action away at Lydney Town on Tuesday evening (7.45pm kick-off).