MALVERN Town and Wellington fought out a 1-1 draw in the Express and Star Premier Division on Wednesday night at Langland Stadium.

MALVERN TOWN 1, WELLINGTON 1

Really Town could have no complaints as they failed to capitalise on Lee Hooper's first minute strike when the 16-year-old drilled a shot home from close range and in doing so registered his third goal in as many games.

Following the goal Town looked always the more likely to extend their lead, but were not as positive in their forward play as they might have been.

A constant threat for Town was the pace of Thomas, but he did not feature significantly after being on the end of two heavy challenges, both of which earned the visiting defenders yellow cards.

The closest Town came to extending their lead was in the 35th minute, when Adam Higgins rattled the crossbar with a 25 yard drive, shortly after Ian Stevenson broke into the area and his looping shot was tipped over by the Wellington 'keeper.

Town were never really troubled at the back, and must have felt that at half time the game was theirs for the taking.

However, the second period saw Town continue in a similar vein, but this time Wellington posed more of a threat. Twice 'keeper Dave Alden rescued Town with fine saves, and Nick Clayton and Sean Davies intervened with timely clearances as an equaliser beckoned.

Malvern came closest when Mark Brooks powered through, but fired narrowly over, and Chris Thomas although put in the clear by an astute Keith Holmans' pass, over ran the ball which was gratefully received by the Wellington 'keeper.

But it was the visitors who got a deserved equaliser in the 80th minute, a swift break saw a fierce cross turned into his own goal by a despairing Sean Davies.

Ironically, Wellington appeared to settle for this and Town began to threaten once more.

Brooks again fired narrowly wide, and Adam Ward just failed to make effective contact at the far post, and in the final minute Thomas got beyond his marker, only to be blatantly obstructed by a visiting defender, earning him a second yellow card, but Town had to settle for a point which was a fair result.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Town visit Tividale (2.15) and then on Tuesday host Walsall Wood in the League Cup (7.45).