Blaby & Whetstone 3, Malvern Town 1.

A FLURRY of injuries and unavailabilities meant a makeshift 13 players travelled to Blaby in Leicestershire for this First Round proper of the FA Vase.

The loss of captain Paul Edwards (shoulder ligament damage) and Alex Taffe (broken hand), together with Malvern’s keeper Lewis Skyers, who is on duty with the England Blind team for the following month.

Also absent were Dave Reynolds, Robert Reid, Lee Hooper (all unavailable) and Mason Mansfield (County duty), which left Chris Palmer only able to name one substitute plus himself.

The game started with the worst possible start when Malvern gave away a penalty within three minutes and Paul Pallett stepped up and converted it.

Blaby made the most of the wind in their favour and pushed Malvern hard.

But gradually the visitorsfought back and, after 20 minutes, good work by several players working the ball through the field to Stuart Gates, who was brought down in the area but the referee waved play on.

Blaby increased their lead in the 42th minute, Pallett took advantage of slack marking to fire home from 10 yards.

The visitors retaliated and on the stroke of half-time Andrew Crosskey beat the offside trap and his chip, with keeper Shane Antcliffe advancing, landed on top of the net. In time added on, Pallett shot wide looking for his hat-trick, and then Malvern gained a corner which bobbled around in the area striking one person after another but failed to find the back of the net.

Malvern with the wind in their favour and making a half-time substitution, replacing the injured Kyle Knott with Jack Fairbairn gradually started to wear Blaby down.

It came as no surprise when Town reduced the arrears’ Bryan Craven crossed to Andrew Crosskey whose shot fell to the feet of Gates at the back post who duly obliged and slotted home.

Despite Malvern’s pressure they were unable to find the equaliser and, on 81 minutes, Blaby put the game to bed when Mark Assman capitalised on a defensive mistake to give keeper Alex Hards no chance and increase the lead to 3-1.

Malvern still continued to push forward and were denied another penalty claim on 85 minutes when Craven was scythed down in the box but play was waved on.

Malvern have no game tomorrow as their game against Coventry Sphinx has been postponed as they are still in the FA Cup third qualifying round.

Town’s next fixture sees them host Kirby Muxloe on October 17 in Aspire Midland Alliance.

Malvern Reserves, who went down 3-1 to Warley Development on Saturday, entertain Shenstone Pathfinder tomorrow at Langland Stadium.

Malvern Youth are at home on Tuesday when they entertain Bromsgrove Rovers.