MALVERN Town maintained their lead at the top of the West Midlands League Premier Division with a 2-0 derby victory at Ledbury Town.

Malvern took a stranglehold on the game from the kick-off and only some resolute defending kept them at bay, until a superb 17th minute Dean Roberts cross-shot sailed over home 'keeper Adam Penny's head and into the far corner of his goal.

Adam Baldwin saw his shot from the edge of the penalty area come back off the crossbar and in the 30th minute Nathan Owen thought he had extended Town's lead, only for his effort to be ruled out by the linesman who had spotted an earlier handball.

Ledbury's best chance of the half fell to Neil Gardner, but he shot over the bar.

The second period was no different to the first, with the pace of Luke Willetts and Roberts up front continually causing problems for the Ledbury defence.

The normally dangerous home pairing of Phil Preedy and Robbie Colwell were virtually anonymous and rarely troubled Dave Alden in the Malvern goal, although Nick Clayton made a brilliant tackle on the edge of the box as Colwell looked to have got in a good position.

But it was Malvern who always looked likely to extend their lead, and in the 85th minute Baldwin threaded the ball into the path of leading scorer Scott Morris who slipped the ball past Penny.