BANDON 3, MALVERN TOWN 1

MALVERN'S visit to high flying Bandon on Saturday was a fruitless one when, after taking an early lead, they ended up going down 3-1 in this Banks's Brewery Premier League match.

Playing down the slope for the first period Malvern completely dominated the first half hour and on 23 minutes took the lead when a good ball from Sean Cotterill picked out Andy Shepherd who headed on for John Wade to head over home keeper Gary Gibbs.

Bandon came more in to the game as the half progressed and Ross Sanders in the Town goal came smartly off his line to take the ball off the foot of Dean Yates. On 30 minutes however, Ross Sanders could do nothing to prevent the home side from drawing level when a ball from the Town's right was picked up by Paul Evason and with the defence hesitant found the corner of the net with ease.

Seven minutes later the home side went in front, a corner by Evason was headed on by Hodson to Yeates who although miss-hit his shot still managed to score.

Playing down the slop in the second half Bandon were becoming quite a handful and Malvern were having to defend rigidly. On 58 minutes they found themselves 3-1 down when Dave Canon was dispossessed by Dave Taylor and trying to recover he fouled him giving away an unnecessary penalty which Evason converted.

Malvern tried hard to get back into the game but they were having no luck at all, a superb ball into the box by Nick Clayton was headed just wide of the post by Shepherd and then Ashby fired wide when well placed.

Malvern have no game tomorrow (Saturday) but on Saturday, March 18 are at home to Gornal Athletic. Kick off 3pm. The Reserves are at home tomorrow (Saturday) when they meet Inkberrow in the Eve-sham Hospital Cup, ko 2.30pm.