MALVERN Town limbered up for a tough run of fixtures with a midweek 1-0 win over Herefordshire side Wellington at the Langland Stadium.

Les Jones’ 10th-placed side will be facing the likes of high-flying Wolverhampton Casuals, Black Country Rangers, Wulfrunians and Lye Town.

Teams below Malvern have plenty of games in hand so it will be a tough ask for them to build on last season’s 12th position in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

But Craig Carter helped with a fine 10-yard volley in the first-half to beat Wellington after he had missed an earlier chance.

Dave Reynolds and Oliver Endacott also went close to scoring before Malvern defended well to hold out.

At the weekend, they fell 3- 0 at eighth-placed Cradley Town. On 40 minutes, Karl Gardner headed the ball over Malvern keeper Ian Hill who recovered to parry from Spencer Blackham only for Lewis Clarke to fire in the rebound.

Within two minutes, William Tibbetts raced forward to slot home the second goal.

The visitors’ first effort came in injury-time when Reece King headed wide.

In the 57th minute, Marvin Whitter’s shot looked like it had been blocked by Chris Allen but the ball rolled just inside the post to give Cradley a 3-0 lead.

In the second period Hill made a good save from Blackham while, at the other end, Endacott’s fine left-wing cross was gathered by keeper Matthew Jones before Lee Hooper could pounce.

Malvern Town Reserves, who lost 5-2 to Red Star Alma in Division Two, meet Bewdley Town Under 21s next Thursday in the Worcester Royal Infirmary Junior Cup semi-finals at the Langland Stadium (7.45pm).

  • Devon Smith scored as Bromyard Town lost 2-1 to Bartley Green in the Premier Division.

Bromyard then won 3-1 at Bustleholme in midweek.

  • Malvern Rangers motored to a 4-0 triumph over Mahal Reserves in Division Two.