Halesowen Harries 3, Malvern Town 4

Malvern Town responded in the best possible way to Saturday's shock defeat at Walsall Wood by defeating Midlands Alliance outfit Halesowen Harriers in the Midland Invitation Cup at Halesowen on Tuesday night.

Town boss, Joey Rawle, rang the changes from Saturday's side, restoring fit again Mark Brooks in midfield and giving a first start to Steve Walker, following his suspension, alongside him.

Chris Thomas was also restored to the left side of midfield and Andy Shepherd was reinstated up front. Dave Damore also came into the side for the unavailable Sean Cotterill.

But things looked bleak for Town when the home side's direct approach put them under considerable early pressure and it was Malvern who went behind in the 9th minute when, not for the first time this season, they failed to deal effectively with a corner and the ball was headed home to give Harriers the lead.

Town though weathered this early spell of pressure without further damage and gradually got themselves back into the game with their more patient passing approach.

A brilliant run by Sharma almost produced a 22nd minute equaliser and Slade went close following an excellent cross by Thomas. The equaliser came in the 35th minute when Nick Clayton's far post cross come shot alluded everyone to go in off the far post.

The second period saw Town rip the home side apart with a devastating spell of counter attacking that the home defence, including ex-Town defender Rob Bastock, could not handle.

First it was Sharma who left the defence in his wake to set up Thomas, who put Town in front in the 50th minute.

Two minutes later Shepherd fired a ferocious shot past a helpless home keeper.

In the 60th minute Shepherd grabbed his second when he fired home from close range.

A shocked Harriers responded and pulled a goal back in the 65th minute and in the 80th minute a swirling cross wrong footed the Town defence and a fierce drive put Harriers back in the game.

In an anxious final ten minutes, not helped by an extraordinairy eight minutes injury time, Town and goalkeeper Ross Sanders, in particuar, held firm, and indeed Town were denied a penalty in the final minute when Sharma broke clear and was upended by the home keeper, only for the referee to award a goal kick.

Commenting on the game, Town assistant manager, Richard Anson, said: "With the greatest respect to Walsall Wood, Halesowen Harriers are on a different planet, which makes Tuesdays result all the more satisfying, but Saturdays equally frustrating."

Malvern Town: Sanders, Higgins, Clayton, Damore, Hayes, Sharma, Walker, Brooks, Thomas (Phillpotts), Shepherd, Slade (Ward). Sub not used: Maidment.

On Saturday Town are at home to Bustlehome in the Banks Brewery League Premier Division, KO 3pm, and will be without Johnny Hayes who is unavailable, but Sean Cotterill returns and is likely to come back into the side alongside youngster Dave Damore, who impressed at Halesowen.

Striker, Simon Judge, came through 90 minutes for the Reserves last Saturday and may come back into contention, but will probably need another second string run out and is more likely to come back into the reckoning for Tuesdays trip to Kington.