MALVERN TOWN 2, LITTLE DRAYTON RANGERS 1

MALVERN Town turned in an improved performance to take all three points against Little Drayton Rangers at Langland Stadium in a Banks's Brewery Premier League game on Saturday.

Finishing the game with only ten men, after Darren Wade was sent off in the 69th minute after receiving a second yellow card, the Town ground out a result which they thoroughly deserved for hard work alone.

Town opened strongly and on 10 minutes a superb cross by Andy Shepherd picked out Dene Whittal-Williams but his powerful header went inches wide of the post.

Ten minutes later they again went close when Paul Ashby pumped a high ball into the box but this time it was Nick Clayton who headed wide.

On 23 minutes it was the visitors who should have taken the lead when Town keeper Ross Sanders made a mess of a clearance but when the ball fell to Luke Reynolds he somehow fired wide of a gaping goal.

On 27 minutes a fine cross by Shepherd was headed goalwards by Nick Clayton but visiting keeper Roger Lewis did well to smother. On the stroke of half time, however, Malvern's pressure paid off when a ball in from the visitors right by Steve Walker was headed down to the feet of Dene Whittal-Williams by Clayton on the edge of the box and he promptly found the net with a fierce drive.

The second period was only eight minutes old when Little Drayton equalised. A ball in from the left was headed onto the bar by Neil Gregory and Stuart Timmis was first to react for a simple tap in.

Malvern should have regained the lead on 55 minutes when Joe Maidment played in Ashby for a one on one with the keeper but the striker dithered and allowed Lewis to save.

On 69 minutes Wade got his marching orders but this only made Malvern more determined.

On 88 minutes Malvern secured the three points when Adam Ward threaded a superb ball through the visitor's defence for Joe Maidment to hit a tremendous shot into the corner of the net via a post.

Tomorrow Ludlow Town are the visitors for a Banks's Brewery Premier League game. Kick off 3pm.

Manager Joe Rawle hopes to have John Wade and Luke Chadwick back in the squad after injury and suspension respectively.

Squad: Sanders, Oakley, Bastock, Lowe, Cotterill, Walker, Maidment, Wade (D), Wade (J), Ward, Clayton, Whittal-Wiliams, Ashby, Shepherd, Williams and Chadwick.