MALVERN Town's Emirates FA Cup interest ended with a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Racing Club Warwick in the preliminary round.

Joshua Hunt fired the West Midlands League Premier Division hosts ahead.

But Midland League Division One outfit Warwick hit back to seal progress.

Malvern co-manager Lee Hooper said: “It was disappointing because we got ourselves in front and the incentive was there.

"We did well in the first half but they came out strong for the second and put us under a lot of pressure to turn the scoreline around.

“We had four players forced to come off with injury so we had to play with 10 men for the final quarter-of-an-hour or so and we couldn’t find a way back into the game.

“It’s a quick opportunity to bounce back now with a league game on Monday (at home to Bewdley Town, 3pm).

“There’s no time to dwell on this. We have to make sure we get back into winning ways against Bewdley and get the three points.”

Warwick were first to threaten when a foul by Jamie Smith, which earned him a booking, gave them a free-kick that was pumped into the box but not properly cleared and Wade Malley dragged his effort well wide.

However, Town went ahead on 14 minutes when a defence-splitting pass from Ben Lane set Hunt racing away and he made no mistake to slot home.

Chances were few and far between although Martin Slevin went close from the edge of the area for the visitors.

Then on the stroke of half-time a foul on Hunt saw Matt Pinder fire the free-kick under the wall but it was easy for the keeper to gather.

Within minutes of the restart Richard Powell turned well inside the area for Warwick but Charlie Weaver saved well.

Adam Knight was denied by a good block from Weaver before the keeper and then an Aaron Griffiths clearance off the line frustrated Warwick.

But the pressure finally told on 63 minutes when Powell found the net to level.

Weaver kept out a towering header from Scott Turner but Malvern fell behind on 74 minutes when they failed to clear and Gerard McGahey drilled the ball home from close range.

Curtis Smith was forced off through injury after Town had made all three substitutions.

A powerful Henry Lever drive in the closing stages was turned onto the bar by Weaver in front of 230 fans at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium.