MALVERN Town Reserves started brilliantly in this West Midlands League division one fixture but faded badly.

LUDLOW TOWN RES 3, MALVERN TOWN RES 2

Town got off to a great start and pressurised the Ludlow veteran left-back into passing back to his goalie. The keeper could not handle the ball and watched as it bounced over his shoulder and into the net within the first 30 seconds.

Town were playing the better football and were in control for much of the match, when Ludlow's speedy number ten equalised against the run of play. There was no sign of panic and just before half-time, Raj Sharma slipped his marker on the edge of the 18-yard box and fired home a left-foot shot to restore Town's lead.

At half-time, Town altered the formation to give an extra man in midfield. However, instead of tightening up the play, a general malaise spread throughout the whole team and this was the signal for Ludlow to level the game with an unlikely equaliser.

Matters then went from bad to worse when keeper Adrian Whittall-Williams fumbled an innocuous cross and Ludlow's number ten headed home.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the Reserves travel to Parkfield.

On Thursday (September 8) the youth team are at home to Evesham United, kick-off 7.45pm.