MALVERN Town lost Jamie Thomas to a 12th-minute red card before crashing 6-0 at title-chasing Sporting Khalsa in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

They travelled to the promotion favourites without the suspended Aaron Richards and the unavailable Phil Harris, Kirk Layton and Harry Wickett.

Malvern keeper Chas Weaver was forced into early action when saving from Chris Rabone in the third minute.

Paul Henley hit the post from the resulting corner as Sporting started strongly.

But Malvern created a chance soon after with Matt Turner shooting straight at home keeper James Pemberton.

The turning point arrived when the ball was played into a crowd of players in the Malvern box.

A Sporting player went down and the referee immediately awarded a penalty before showing a confused Thomas the red card.

Timothy Jackson converted the spot-kick to give second-placed Sporting the lead.

Ten-man Malvern fought back with Pemberton turning Ben Hayes' cross behind and Reece King nodding over the bar from a corner.

Town defender Joe Endacott was injured in the 20th minute and replaced by Sam Rathbone as the visitors suffered another blow.

Two minutes later, Lee Hooper played the ball over the defence to Dave Reynolds but the ball bounced and keeper Pemberton was able to grab it before the forward.

But Sporting won another penalty in the 43rd minute when Weaver brought down Bradley Lawley, who had lost control of the ball, and Jackson again remained calm from the spot.

The game ran away from Malvern in the second period with Marvin Nisbett slotting home a third goal inside seven minutes.

But Turner came close to pulling one back when his shot was blocked after Pemberton dropped a Hooper free-kick on the hour mark.

Sporting cleared off the line soon after following a Malvern corner.

But the hosts made it four on 72 minutes with Henley powerfully heading in a corner.

Sixth-placed Malvern again showed character with Reynolds' effort saved and Jack Cullity firing wide from Hooper's pass.

But Sporting's Simeon Townsend netted twice in the last five minutes, benefitting from the referee getting in Malvern player Joe Leighton's way for the first.

The under 21s lost 2-1 at home to Newport Town in Division Two.