MALVERN TOWN 0, HEATH HAYES 2

MALVERN Town crashed to a shock Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division defeat, against mid-table Heath Hayes at the Langland Stadium on Saturday.

In game where Town never really got into their stride, they still created enough chances to at least pick up a point in a game where they really needed all three.

Town should have gone ahead as early as the first minute when Lee Hooper broke free, but with only the visiting goalkeeper to beat, the young striker shot tamely wide.

Town created very little after this and the visitors might have taken the lead on two occasions, the first in the 16th minute, when Melvyn Watson saved well at his near post and just two minutes later, when Nathan Owen cleared a header off the line.

The visitors were a constant threat in the air from set pieces and it was no real surprise when Chris Baker outjumped the home defence after 22 minutes to head home off the underside of the bar.

Despite losing skipper Dean Roberts with a leg injury, Town marginally improved as the first half came to a close, and a tactical shake up, plus a strong half time 'briefing' from boss Neil Hunt, seemed to have the desired effect as Town put the visitors under increased pressure.

It was midweek hat-trick hero Nathan Owen who should have levelled matters in the 52nd minute, but he headed over when well-placed. Then Town had furious appeals for a penalty turned down, when an Owen shot appeared to have been charged down by a visiting defender's hands

More controversy followed in the 60th minute when the Heath Hayes keeper came rushing out of his goal, only to misjudge the bounce and handle outside the area, with Luke Willetts bearing down on goal. He only received a yellow card for his offence and recovered to save brilliantly from Rik Halion's resultant free kick.

The keeper again denied Halion in the 73rd minute and then Owen missed the chance of the match, when he headed over from a yard out with the goal at his mercy

Ironically, in the 85th minute, it was the visitors who rubbed salt into Town's wound, when a long throw was only half dealt with by the home defence. The ball fell to Dave Brierley, who prodded home from close range to clinch his side the three points in what was the last of the meaningful action.