MALVERN Town crashed out of the FA Carlsberg Vase following a desperately disappointing home defeat against North West Counties Division Two outfit Norton United.

MALVERN TOWN 0, NORTON UNITED 2

With Town bidding for a second round proper place for only the third time in the club's history, it was the Staffordshire outfit who took the honours with a gritty defensive display that in the end frustrated Malvern to the extent that they simply ran out of ideas.

Things started badly for Town, when after only five minutes, a short corner caught the Malvern defence ball watching and Norton centre back Powell rose unmarked at the far post to head home.

To be fair this was the last threat Norton posed for the remainder of the half, as Town dominated the game territorially, but without virus victim Dean Roberts, lacked the cutting edge to their play that would surely have provided them with a better return.

Despite this the promptings of Des Cox and youngsters Lee Hooper and Lee Goodman up front, still gave the visiting defence a number of problems. Cox should have put Town in front midway through the first half when he broke clear, but he delayed his shot which enabled Norton's goalkeeper Brown to smother his shot.

Hooper went close for Malvern shortly after this and two long range efforts from Steve Walker went narrowly wide, as did a similar effort from skipper Craig Williams.

Town though were too often over elaborate in their play and wasteful with the final ball, but despite remaining one goal down at half time, most people in a decent sized crowd would have bet on them getting something out of the game.

The second period began very much as the first ended, with Town quickly forcing two corners, but nothing came from either and although Walker had another drive well saved by Brown and Goodman fired into the side netting, a feeling of frustration was starting to set in.

It did look as though Town might have had their task made easier, when Norton centre forward Pugh was dismissed for a dangerous tackle but Town could not make their numerical advantage pay and in the 70th minute the game was all but decided.

Goalkeeper Dave Alden, who had just made a fine save from Norton's Brookes moments earlier, played a short ball to Nick Clayton, struggling to clear the ball it eventually found Steve Walker, who lost possession. The ball was then quickly played to the far post where Brookes slotted home a simple chance to secure his side's place in the next round.

With their disappointment obvious and the visitors not wasting any opportunity to slow the game down, Town eventually ran out of ideas as their interest in this year's competition slowly ebbed away in a tame finale.