MALVERN Town bowed out of the GX Southern League Cup against Division One South and West side Cirences-ter Town.

The first-half was even with both sides creating plenty of chances.

Malvern’s Chris Allen came close in the third minute after his shot landed on the roof of the net following some good play between Aaron Drake and Jamie Hyde.

Former Swansea City striker Julian Alsop forced Malvern keeper Craig Humphries into action in the 15th-minute with a powerful shot.

Five minutes later the ball was played across the Centurions’ box but no-one could connect.

Minutes before the break Malvern worked the ball up the field and Andy Crowther crossed the ball to Joe Wood but he fired just wide before Crowther went close himself.

The hosts were forced into two substitutions during the interval with skipper Hyde having clashed heads with Scott Devlin on the stroke of half-time, while Scott Morris picked up an injury bringing Lee Mussell and Lorcan Sheehan into the game.

However, it took the visitors just eight minutes after the break to take the lead in controversial fashion.

Drake appeared to clear an Alsop header off the line, but the assistant referee signalled a goal despite no appeals from the Cirencester team.

Malvern continued to battle against the Gloucestershire side and they got their reward seven minutes from time.

Anthony Smith took full advantage of a napping Cirencester defender to pull the ball back for Mussell to slot home and level the scores.

The game was drifting towards extra-time when another controversial decision from the assistant referee handed the visitors a penalty for an alleged pulling of shirts and Matthew Williams drilled home to spot-kick to send Malvern to defeat.

Bromsgrove Rovers, meanwhile, crashed out of the FA Trophy after a 4-1 home defeat to Gloucester City.

A brace apiece from Alex Sykes and Will Morford put the Tigers through with Keenan Meakin-Richards scoring from the spot for Rovers.

Stourport Swifts forced a replay in their clash at Yate Town. Chris Cornes put Swifts into the lead from the spot but Steve Towers spared the hosts blushes with an equaliser for the Premier Division men.