Tenbury United 4, Malvern Rangers 5.

MALVERN Rangers were on the losing end of a nine-goal thriller in West Midlands League Division Two, with both sides reduced to 10 men.

Rangers were caught napping early on as Aaron Morris waltzed through Rangers’ midfield and defence unchallenged, before firing just wide of the goal.

Fifteen minutes later Jamie Thomas conceded a free-kick which was taken quickly by Ashley Botwood to team-mate Mike Foster, who coasted in and guided the ball home with his knee for 1-0.

Malvern equalised just before half-time when Anastas Brazdys put Olly Endacott into space and, fending off one challenge, the latter picked his spot for the equaliser.

The second-half saw a further seven goals and crucially Rangers got the first one and never relinqueshed the lead.

A corner by Dave Reynolds was met at the far post by Aaron Griffiths, who headed back across the home keeper for 2-1.

Tenbury responded straight away as substitute Gavin Podmore headed an equaliser on 54 minutes.

Five minutes later Reynolds flicked the ball on for Endacott , who restored Malvern’s lead at 3-2.

Ed Lyons created Endacott’s next opportunity and the striker made no mistake with his third and Malvern’s fourth.

In the space of three minutes both sides were reduce to 10 men as Christian Bright receive a second yellow card and when keeper Ian Hill chopped down Rob Newbury he was shown a straight red, and Andy Fletcher donned the keeper’s jersey, but had no chance saving the resultant penalty.

Rangers finally took a two-goal lead when Lyons set up skipper Lee Hooper who drove the ball home for 5-3.

Even then the scoring was not over as Greg Pearson bundled the ball past Fletcher just before the final whistle.