MALVERN Town stormed to the top of the Midland Alliance table following an emphatic second-half performance at Langland Stadium on Saturday.

MALVERN TOWN 5, BIDDULPH VICTORIA 0

In hot conditions and on a hard, difficult pitch, Malvern's class finally told and they also kept their first clean sheet of the campaign.

Town goalkeeper Craig Humphries saved well from Ford early on but it was Town who took the lead when Mark Owen's through ball set up Duncan Preedy to score in the eighth minute.

Owen and Mark Shepherd went close to increasing Town's lead but the home side had as let-off when Gunby's free-kick rattled the post.

A Darren Bullock free-kick went close at the other end and Shepherd had a header cleared off the line although Town were grateful for last-ditch tackles from Craig Chalmers and Marc Burrows to maintain their lead.

Seven minutes into the second half, Owen brought a great save from goalkeeper Intihar, who was soon in action again, palming away and effort from Craig Heaney, who had made a lengthy run before shooting. The ball, however, fell to Luke Whittington, who fired in from close range to make it 2-0.

Intihar made a full-length save to deny Phil Preedy but Malvern increased their lead when Nathan Jukes' free-kick was only partially cleared and Owen turned quickly to fire home from ten yards.

Minutes later it was 4-0 when Rich Tompkins capped another fine performance with a delightful through-ball for Phil Preedy to outstrip the defence and round the keeper to slot home.

Malvern's fifth and final goal was a quality effort. In a flowing move, Burrows found Phil Preedy wide on the left, his 30-yard pass picked out Owen, he cushioned his header down into the path of Jukes, who coolly chipped the ball over the advancing keeper.

There was still time for Intihar to make good saves to deny Owen and then Duncan Preedy as the home side totally dominated the closing minutes.