MANAGER Les Jones has challenged his Malvern Town side to replicate their fine home record on the road for the rest of the season.

Malvern returned to West Midlands Football League Premier Division action for the first time since December 28 on Wednesday when they thrashed Smethwick Rangers 4-0 at the Langland Stadium.

That was their fifth home win in a row following the post-Christmas victory over leaders Lye Town and triumphs over Bromyard Town, Wolverhampton Sporting Community and Bartley Green.

By contrast, mid-table Malvern, whose schedule was hit by the wet weather, have won just one of their last seven away games in the league.

But tomorrow they head to basement boys Bartley Green (3pm) looking to end that barren spell and keep up their push for a top-10 finish.

"The Langland is becoming a bit of a fortress," Jones said. "We have got to take that home form with us tomorrow and start producing the results away from home.

"It's a game we are aiming to win so we have got to go out there and produce the same performance as against Smethwick.

"We have got 12 league games left and have got to try and win the vast majority of them."

Lee Hooper scored twice in the Smethwick victory alongside strikes for Dave Reynolds and Matt Turner.

"They were 13 points above us in the league so it was a great win," Jones said. "The pitch was still very heavy and we had some tired legs but I was really pleased with the intensity and the way we kept going in the conditions and pressed the ball really well.

"We took our chances as well which was great."

He added: "I am delighted for us to be playing again. It was difficult but I was really pleased with the way we started. We began brightly and weren't sluggish, which I thought we would be.

"We got the important first goal and went on from there. Then it was just a question of fitness levels. We had to use all the subs because people were getting cramped up but I was delighted to win the game."