MALVERN Town recorded their fifth successive Express and Star West Midlands League Premier Division win with a fairly comfortable 2-0 victory at Smethwick ST on Saturday.

SMETHWICK ST 0, MALVERN TOWN 2

Despite being without Dave Cannon, Dean Roberts and John Walton, Town were quickly into their stride and were awarded a penalty after only five minutes. A fine, flowing move ended with Craig Williams being tripped in the penalty area and it was left to Billy Davis to convert the resultant spot kick.

This heralded a spell of intense pressure from Town, where they did everything but score.

Davis, Des Cox and Pete Roberts all might have increased Malvern's advantage.

But it wasn't to be and Town themselves had to endure a brief spell of pressure from the home side just before half time.

Indeed Smethwick started the second period in a similar vein, but they never really got behind the Town defence and Melvyn Watson, in the Malvern goal, was never seriously tested.

Town soon began to get back in their stride and a fierce Ricky Halion effort was beaten away by the home goalkeeper and a brilliant turn and run by Davis, saw the Town striker shoot narrowly wide. Town eventually grabbed the all important second goal in the 75th minute.

A Craig Williams free kick was headed back across the face of the goal by Chris Palmer and Des Cox applied the finishing touch to secure his side the three points.

In the game's closing moments Chris Anson, Smethwick's best player on the day, allowed his frustration get the better of him, when he was dismissed following a late challenge on Craig Williams.

Otherwise Town held on to their lead with few difficulties to secure another three points that sees them continue to close in on the division's leading sides.