JOE Bates' 90th minute penalty secured a dramatic victory for Malvern Town in an enthralling local derby to deal Worcester Raiders' promotion hopes a significant blow.

Isaac Cooper's inch perfect free-kick inside the last 20 minutes looked to have sealed a point for the hosts after Lewis Spurrier's brilliant strike from 25 yards gave Malvern a 2-1 lead.

The hosts had taken a 14th minute lead through Brogan Halpin's goal but Carrick Hill's equaliser right on half-time squared things.

Both sides would have fancied their chances for victory late on but when Dave Reynolds was pulled down in the box late on, Bates stepped up and secured the win in front of a packed out crowd.

It was a game billed as a must win for Raiders given they were already seven points off second-placed Cribbs in the league and ten off Malvern.

And it began as one would expect from two attacking sides, with both having chances early on.

The game was not even ten seconds old when striker Jordan Murphy bobbled one at Keiron Blackburn before Malvern had a glorious chance to take the lead, but Lewis Spurrier's shot was hooked over the bar on his weak foot.

The visitors were on top but Raiders went ahead against the run of play as Halpin was quickest to react to Cooper's dragged effort that came back off the inside of the post via a Blackburn toe.

Malvern battled their way back into the contest and Turner went close to a leveller but former Malvern centre half James Timmins made the crucial block.

The Hillsiders were threatening going forward and came within a post of pulling level as Clark's brilliant header cannoned off the woodwork.

Malvern's performance warranted a goal and they finally got on with a minute left on the half as centre-back Hill scrambled the ball over the line.

Having equalised right on half-time, Malvern started as they ended the half, very much on the front foot.

Clark had a header that clipped the top of the bar and Hayes almost found a diving Turner in the box.

Malvern were well on top and it was a screamer of a goal that saw them take the lead for the first time.

A ball came back to Spurrier on the edge of the box and he dug the ball out of his feet before unleashing a brilliant strike into the top corner of Young's goal from 25 yards.

The away side were on total control and looked as if they would extend their lead if anything.

But Cooper's exquisite free-kick from 25 yards picked out the top right corner, a goal that looked to have given Raiders a point.

In the end, they were left with nothing as Ferron was late on substitute Reynolds in the box and another sub, Bates, made no mistake from the spot.

Matters were worsened in the closing stages for Raiders as striker Murphy was sent off for dissent.