MALVERN Town responded in the best possible way to Saturday's shock defeat at Walsall Wood by defeating Midlands Alliance outfit Halesowen Harriers 4-3 in the Midland Invitation Cup at Hales-owen last night.

Things looked bleak for Town when the ball was headed home to give Harriers a ninth minute lead. The equaliser came in the 35th minute when Nick Clayton's far post cross-shot went in.

Sharma set up Thomas who put Town in front in the 50th minute and then two minutes later Shepherd fired home a ferocious shot.

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

Harriers pulled a goal back in the 65th minute.

Then in the 80th minute a swirling cross wrong footed the Town defence and a fierce drive put Harriers back in the game.

But in an anxious final ten minutes Town held firm.