Cradley Town 3, Malvern Town 4.

MALVERN Town progressed to the preliminary round of the FA Cup with a dramatic 4-3 victory at Cradley Town.

Malvern started the FA Cup extra prelimary round tie brightly and the pitch, made slippy by earlier rain, hindered the Cradley defence and, in the 13th minute, a low corner was flicked on by Ben Rothery which shot across the face of goal.

Two minutes later Duncan Edwards and Dave Burtoft combined well but the latter’s shot was kicked out.

The visitor’s pressure paid off in the 21st minute when Scott Finnegan found Leigh Downing, who fired the ball home.

A minute later Burtoft was played through and he had a one-on-one with goalkeeper Ian Cooke who saved with his legs.

Cradley saw this let off as a good sign and started to insert their own pressure.

In the 28th minute a ball played over the Malvern defence fell to Sean Williams who tried to chip the advancing Malvern keeper Jack Stern but his shot went well over the bar.

In the 31st minute, a corner from the hosts fell to Lee Onions who fired home.

A minute later Stern made a tremendous save from Mark Swann and five minutes from the break, Stern was called upon to turn the ball over the bar.

Malvern cleared the ball but the referee blew his whistle and awarded a penalty for a trip and Lewis Onions converted it.

Malvern made two changes at half-time bringing on Bryan Craven and Joel Skyers and this sparked their side into life.

Skyers crossed the ball and Tim Beattie headed over and then Scott Finnegan crossed and Bryan Craven shot over.

It was no surprise when Malvern equalised in the 50th minute when Burtoft fired home.

Cradley were awarded a free-kick just inside Malvern’s half in the 60th minute and a long kick into the area was missed by Stern and Swann put the ball away.

The remainder of the game was played in torrential rain.

Craven went up the other end of the pitch but his shot hit the crossbar with Cooke stranded.

However, Malvern equalised again in the 65th minute when the ball was played up the left and crossed to Burtoft to fire home.

In the 70th minute, Cradley played the ball into the box and a sliding tackle by a Malvern defender resulted in him hitting his own crossbar.

Malvern took the lead again five minutes from time when the ball was played towards Craven in the area.

But the defender held him and the referee awarded his second penalty of the day which Downing put away.

Malvern travel to Boldmere St Michaels tomorrow (ko 3pm) in the Midland Alliance.