MALVERN Town went back to the top of the Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division, with this incident-packed victory at the Langland Stadium on Saturday.

MALVERN TOWN 2, WOLVERHAMPTON UNITED 1

From the start, the visitors approach was intimidatory, Town though kept their heads and although surviving a scare after only five minutes, when Dave Alden rescued them with a brave save at the feet of Mark Habbershall, they always looked the more likely side to take the lead and came closest in the 16th minute when Scott Morris volleyed against the underside of the crossbar.

Their first goal was not long in coming though, and in the 21st minute, a well worked corner between Craig Williams and Lee Hooper saw the latter play the ball into the path of Dean Roberts, who glided the ball past the helpless visiting goalkeeper.

Shortly after, Roberts fired narrowly wide, but Town's second goal duly arrived in the 30th minute, when Morris won the ball superbly in the air and set up Hooper who drove the ball into the far corner of the United goal

Although Hooper's strike put Town firmly in the driving seat, United gave themselves a lifeline right on the stroke of half time when a ricochet off Roberts saw the ball fall into the path of Habbershall, who rounded Alden to slot the ball home

The second period saw Town continue dominate the possesion, but with the visitors seemingly intent on breaking the game up with a series of fouls and petty interruptions, the game was rarely allowed to flow.

The worst of these fouls came in the 53rd minute when Roberts, in full flow, was crudely taken out on the edge of the United area. The resultant free kick from Rik Halion was easily saved by the United keeper.

But on the hour mark, the game exploded when Scott Morris's late challenge on a visting player, saw virtually the entire Wolverhampton side surround him.

Morris was eventually dismissed for his role in the fracas as was Wolerhampton's Ian Banks, however, the linesman then intervened when he drew the referee's attention to an alleged incident involving Adam Baldwin who was subsequently dismissed.

Fortunately, the game was played out without further incident, with the visitors unable to make their extra man tell, although Alden did pull of an outstanding save when push away a 20-yard drive in the 73rd minute.

The outstanding Roberts volleyed narrowly wide for Town in the 81st minute and Nathan Owen headed over with just two minutes left on the clock.

But with the Town back three of Nick Clayton, Andy Chalmers and Dave Cannon in excellent form, and the tireless prompting of Williams and Halion in front of them, Town held on comfortably pick up a vital, but costly, three points.

Town general manager Richard Anson said: "I am not prepared to comment specifically on the performance of the officials as all comments will be made through the channels available to us.

"We will also wait for the referee's report before we consider the situations concerning Scott and Adam, but I think it fair to say that we are likely appeal on both counts.

"We certainly do not condone indisciplined behaviour, and our track record over the past few season's proves that, but in the case of Scott, it is fair to say that there was a lot of provocation going on, and, in my opinion, if appropriate action isn't taken something, somewhere, will give.

"As for Adam, I have absolutely no idea why he was dismissed."

Town boss Neil Hunt said: "It was a very difficult afternoon for us, but in the end we kept our shape as best we could and got three vital points, having said that the game was an experience we would not wish to repeat."