23/8/02 - Cox header saves the day

BUSTLEHOLME 2, MALVERN TOWN 2

But up until the 82nd minute Town were leading 1-0 and should never have had to rely on Cox's last gasp rescue act.

Town were given the lead by Dean Robert's 35th minute penalty and without ever really being at their best, the three points always looked likely to be heading Malvern's way.

But the 80th minute introduction of Bustleholme substitute striker Stuart Hill dramatically changed the course of the game.

Just two minutes after making his entrance, Hill found himself completely unmarked at the far post, to head firmly past Dave Alden in the Malvern goal to earn his side an equaliser. Just three minutes later, Hill got in on the end of a long clearance to fire past the hopelessly exposed Alden.

Cox ensured Malvern went home with a point, but it really should have been all three.

After a patchy start Malvern began exert their authority and prior to Robert's penalty, Billy Davis, Craig Williams and Dean Whittal-Williams, had all gone close to giving Town the lead.

The period immediately after the break, saw Town enjoy their best spell of the game and a second goal seemed inevitable, but Davis was twice denied by the home goalkeeper and Roberts saw a shot roll agonisingly along the goal-line, before being scrambled to safety.

Whittal-Williams then fired over from 18 yards and when Cox broke free after sixty minutes, the Town striker lost his footing and the ball was cleared to safety.

Town were guilty of taking their foot off the gas after this and although they were never really put under any sort of pressure, they nearly paid the price for a lack of concentration and poor defending.

Town general manager Richard Anson said: "The players were rightly downcast about their performance and I think it was the wake up call we needed.

"However, it was, after all, a point away from home and we know we can play a lot better."