MALVERN Town ground out a draw in the West Midlands League Premier Division Cup semi-final, first leg at Tividale on Tuesday.

TIVIDALE 1, MALVERN TOWN 1

The result almost certainly installs Town as favourites to progress to the final, given that they were without leading scorer Dean Roberts, skipper Craig Williams and midfield mainstay Nathan Jukes.

All of these players were carrying injuries, but will hopefully be fit for the superbly set up second leg, which will be played at the Langland Stadium on Tuesday, April 20 (7.45).

During a scrappy first half where the home side held the upper hand, Town never really got any momentum going with their scoring opportunities restricted to spasmodic longe range efforts. But the home side generally carved out the better opportunities and had strong appeals for penalties turned down on two occasions.

Goalkeeper Adam Moss was also in fine form for Town as he twice saved excellently from goalbound efforts.

The second half saw the game continue in a similar vein and Tividale took the lead in the 59th minute when Gavin Adams stole into the box to plant an emphatic finish past Moss.

However, Malvern's response was instant when Rik Halion powerfully headed home Phil Preedy's corner just two minutes later.

Town now came more into the picture and Scott Morris, Des Cox, Preedy and Adam Baldwin all went close to putting Malvern in front.

But the Town back three of Nick Clayton, John Fryer and Andy Chalmers still had to work hard to keep Tividale at bay and Moss again made an excellent save to keep his side in the game.

After the match, Town boss Neil Hunt said: "We weren't at our best that's for sure, but we were missing key players and our efforts on Saturday probably had an effect as well.

"But it is a decent result and one we might have accepted before the game, even if we had everyone fit."

- TOWN Reserves went down 3-2 (aet) at Bilston on Tuesday, in the quarter-final of the West Midlands League Division One Cup.

Town did well to level matters after being 2-0 down and had good appeals for an extra time penalty turned down.

But the home side ran out eventual winners after surviving late appeals for penalty.

U18s in action

THE Town U18s visit Pershore on Wednesday (April 14) in the Midland Youth League (7.30pm).