MALVERN Town manager Chris Palmer insists tomorrow’s home FA Cup preliminary round clash with Cradley Town (ko 3pm) will serve as a welcome distraction after seeing his side crash to two league defeats in a week.

The Langland Stadium plays host to cup fever when fellow Aspire Midland Alliance side Cradley Town travel to Malvern.

But Town’s league form has been dented over the last seven days with a 1-0 home defeat to Rocester followed by a 2-1 loss to fifth-placed Tipton Town.

Mason Mansfield grabbed a consolation goal and an under-strength Town side, missing five players, were left to rue their luck as Bryan Craven hit the post with five minutes to go.

Town saw off Highgate United in the extra preliminary round after a replay.

Palmer: “We’re all looking forward to tomorrow’s game, it will be a welcome distraction for us.

“As long as we can win tomorrow’s game the pressure will be off us in the FA Cup as then we will be playing teams from higher divisions and would be classed as underdogs then.

“It’s about rebuilding this season for us.

“I’m happy because I can see that we’re moving in the right direction and we’ve not been getting hammered.

“I thought the lads gave a good account of themselves at Tipton as I didn’t expect us to get anything out of that game.”

Admission to tomorrow’s cup clash will be £6 for adults and £3 for concessions.

If the game ends in a draw the replay will take place at Cradley on the Bank Holiday Monday (ko 7.45pm).

However, if the game is not drawn then Malvern will travel to Bridgnorth Town on Monday (ko 3pm) in their latest Midland Alliance game Richard Bond has been appointed as Malvern’s new chairman. Bond, who was handed the role at the club’s AGM, replaces Paul Pallett who resigned in the close season.