MALVERN Town concluded a quick double over Dudley Town at Tividale last Saturday.

DUDLEY TOWN 0, MALVERN TOWN 1

This was a vital win for Town, as most of their rivals for a leading Banks's Brewery League Premier Division place, dropped points against lowly sides.

Town had to thank Adam Ward for their success, when the midfielder found himself with time and space in the penalty area, to drill a low drive inside the home keeper's left hand post, to register the decisive strike on 75 minutes.

To be fair, this was no more than Town deserved, as they were rarely troubled at the back, with Sean Davies and Dave Damore handling the home side's long ball approach with few difficulties.

Chances were few and far between, but Malvern always looked the side most likely to break the deadlock, with Phil Slade, Martin Phillpotts, Mark Brooks and Raj Sharma all going close for Town in the first half.

Chris Thomas, might have put Town in front on more than one occasion, early in the second half, but twice he spurned opportunities in one-on-one situations.

But with Town now gradually beginning to open up the home side on a more regular basis, a goal looked inevitable, which of course duly arrived with Ward's clinical finish.

Ironically, Town's biggest fright came in injury time, when substitute striker Albert Johnson, looking at least a yard offside, found himself bearing down on Ross Sanders goal, but inexplicably knocked the ball on with his hand, before firing home.

Town assistant manager Richard Anson said: "I have to say our hearts were in our mouths at this point, as there was no flag from the linesman who was best positioned of all, but fortunately the referee saw the hand ball.

"Overall, we were solid, if not spectacular, but we worked hard throughout and this was exactly the type of performance you need to put in at potentially difficult places like Dudley."

Malvern Town: Sanders, Higgins, Damore, Davies, Clayton, Sharma, Brooks, Ward (Jones), Thomas (Walker), Slade, Phillpotts (Upton).