MALVERN Athletic collected just their second away point of the season at Rugby AFC in this Midland Combination Division Two league encounter against a very young Rugby side.

RUGBY AFC 1, MALVERN ATHLETIC 1

The team welcomed back Don Mackenzie, Julian Langfield and Chris Beasley to the squad but were without the unavailable central defender Carl Preece. The other defender Marc Owen was given a late fitness test having sustained an injury the week before to his shoulder and just declared himself fit before the kick off.

The first half was played in pleasant conditions although the pitch was a little bumpy and made control of the ball difficult and several mistakes were made in the midfield. Malvern made the early running with some good moves down both flanks but the final ball in to the box was lacking lone striker Cyril Dowling had a good chance on the half hour when he collected a good long ball from Nigel Russell but the attacker decided to shoot on sight rather than to carry the ball into the box and his shot was rather a weak effort giving the keeper little trouble. Richard Forde celebrating his 18th birthday made several menacing runs into Rugby half but his final ball was his undoing on the bumpy pitch. Keeper Dave Starkey was called upon to make just two saves before the whistle. Half time 0-0.

Athletic took the lead within two minutes of the re-start when a corner on the right from Andrew Cornes was headed home by of all people Mark Owen, for his first goal for the club. Don Mackenzie then headed over from right in front of the goals from another Cornes corner, this time from the left. Rugby moved to three attackers and five in midfield and then had good 20 minutes spell, although keeper Starkey had little to do, until the 78th minutes when he found himself completely deceived from a cross on the right and the ball found the head of James who headed home the equaliser.

Team: Starkey, Penney, Lines, Russell, Owen, Langfield, Mackenzie, Forde, Cornes (Kendrick 75), Jordan (Beasley 81), Dowling. Sub not used: Llewellyn.

After the match Manager Phil Llewellyn praised the commitment of Mark (Geordie) Owen not only for his goal but for passing himself fit to play, solving the problem of the lack of defenders, with Carl Preece crying off the night before the game.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Malvern Athletic travel to Triplex Sports Ground to take on Burman Hi-Ton in a Midland Combination Division Two league encounter, kick off 2.45pm.

Manager Phil Llewellyn will be missing as will keeper Dave Starkey. It is hoped that Carl Preece will be available to return to the defence with midfielder Andrew Cornes moving into the keeper's position.

Squad: Cornes, Penney, Lines, Owen, Preece, Russell, Langfield, Mackenzie, Forde, Kendrick, Dowling, Beasley, Jordan.