Malvern Town 0, Rocester 1.

MALVERN failed to take their opportunities in the first-half and were made to pay in the second in the Aspire Midland Alliance clash.

Malvern started strongly and in the fourth minute Lee Hooper’s cross to Stuart Hughes saw the latter’s glancing header was parried by keeper Froggatt but then cleared for a corner.

Five minutes later, Rocester were given a free-kick on the right-hand side which was palmed out by Town keeper Lewis Skyers.

Rocester gradually came more into the game and, in the 35th minute, the ball was played from the centre circle to Richard Beech, whose shot took a ricochet and Skyers parried it away.

In the 42nd minute he was called upon again to make another good save and three minutes later he gathered the ball at Damion Jarrett’s feet.

In first-half stoppage time, Hooper’s corner came to Mark Brookes at the back post but his header was cleared off the line Shawn Salmon.

Within two minutes of the restart, Skyers played the ball upfield and Mark Shepherd and Hooper both ran for the ball but Froggatt in the Rocester goal came out to smother.

Three minutes later Rocester took a long throw which fell to James Curley but his header was straight at Skyers. But Rocester took the lead eight minutes after the interval.

A Rocester free-kick was cleared out for a corner and the ball came out to Salmon, who shot from just outside the area.

In the 69th minute, a Rocester corner was punched out by Skyers, but it fell to Martin Heath, whose shot was headed off the line by Ashley Pardoe, who damaged his wrist as he fell.

Malvern had already used all three substitutes and played for several minutes with 10 men before Pardoe came back on the pitch but playing up front to try and protect his arm.

Twice Tyrell Shannon-Lewis had chances when Malvern had the 10 men but was unable to make them count. Craig Williams cleared off his line and Paul Ireland brought off a tremendous tackle in the area to prevent a shot.

This defeat was followed by a further 2-1 reverse at high-flyers Tipton Town on Wednesday night.

At Malvern’s AGM, commercial manager Stan Cullen, director of football Nigel Soley and groundsman Glynne Knapper were appointed onto the committee to join Andy Simmonds, Brian Scott and Rob Barber.

Heidi Barlow retains her job as secretary and Margaret Scott remains as treasurer and football secretary.