KINGTON TOWN 0, MALVERN TOWN 3

MALVERN Town got the New Year off to the best possible start with an emphatic 3-0 success at Banks's Premier League champions Kington on Bank Holiday Monday.

In a game played in what was a constant downpour, Town quickly adapted to the conditions winning a lot of the ball in midfield and moving it quickly to the flanks where Darren Wade and Nick Clayton constantly exposed Kington's lack of pace at the back.

Kington though were not without their moments, and the Town defence superbly marshalled by the experienced Sean Cotterill and Mick Lowe had to be at their best to contain periods of Kington pressure. When the home side did find a way through Ross Sanders was again in excellent form in the visitor's goal.

In the 37th minute Town took the lead they had often threatened when the pace of Paul Ashby took him beyond the Kington back four, before squaring to Joe Maidment who rifled the ball home from just inside the area.

Malvern were unlucky not to extend their lead on the stroke of half-time when Shepherd met Maidment's corner, only to see the ball crash down off the underside of the crossbar.

Inevitably, Kington put Town under pressure at the start of the second period, but they could just not find a way through and gradually Malvern began to gain the ascendancy.

However, they needed a goal to ease their nerves and that is exactly what they got in the 65th minute when Clayton and Ashby combined, allowing the former to cross deep to the far post, where the incoming Shepherd hooked the ball home from the tightest of angles.

Town were now firmly in control and sealed an excellent win in the 80th minute when Andy Shepherd found himself with time and space on the edge of the Kington area and superbly chipped the home keeper to secure victory on a stylish note.

Malvern Town: Sanders, Chadwick, Cotterill, Lowe, Bastock, Wade D, Hutchinson D, Maidment, Whittal-Williams, Clayton, Ashby, Shepherd, (Perrins).