MALVERN men's hockey team put on their own fireworks display with a superb show of two-touch hockey to destroy Aston University on Saturday.

MALVERN 9, ASTON UNIVERSITY 0

A full-strength Malvern side pressed the opposition from the whistle with Mike Braim using his rapidly improving skills to carve out a penalty corner within the first five minutes.

A great shot from Tristan Price found Braim at the back post to neatly deflect the ball into the goal to earn a deserved early lead.

With the midfield duo of Joe Smith and John Podmore controlling the game, Tristan Price was able to attack alongside Braim at every opportunity and they were able to force another penalty corner from which Price scored with a firm strike from the edge of the D.

Braim continued to cause havoc amongst the Aston defence and he was able to cross to an unmarked Brian Crump who made no mistake from close range.

Crump doubled his tally after a defensive error gifted him the ball to score with a well-placed flick.

Leading 4-0 at half-time, Malvern were able to make changes with Dave Sheath and the in-form Rich Simmonds coming into the fray.

Malvern were playing confident, flowing hockey and the goals came at regular intervals.

The intelligent running of Simmonds and the attacking play of Price caused Aston increasing problems and the inevitable influx of goals arrived with Crump scoring twice in two minutes.

Crump's fifth goal was a team effort starting from the defence which passed to Price, who drove down the line and onwards to Simmonds, who, using great awareness, slipped the ball to Crump to wrong-foot the keeper and score.

Malvern's eighth goal was scored by Rich Peate with a superb drag flick that beat the keeper with ease.

Malvern's ninth and Crump's sixth goal was all about speed when Price again unleashed Crump to outpace the Aston defence and slot past the keeper from the edge of the D.

The Malvern defensive quartet of Ben Hodge, Rich Peate, Shaun Kabani and Mark Howarth kept Aston at bay with relative ease to aid Boocock to gain yet another clean sheet.

This victory takes Malvern to joint seventh in the league with more points already than last season's total.

Man-of-the-match was Tristan Price.

Malvern require new players to strengthen their squad. Anybody interested should contact Brian Crump on 07709 800039 or e-mail on briancrumpuk@yahoo.co.uk.