MALVERN Town stretched their unbeaten run in the West Midlands League Premier Division to four games with a 4-1 win over Ellesmere Rangers.

Three goals in the first 10 minutes of the second-half from Harry Wickett, Kirk Layton and Ben Hayes, alongside a strike from Matt Turner, did the damage at the HDanywhere Stadium.

Victory keeps Malvern in sixth, now level on points with fifth-placed Ellesmere, but having played four games more.

The first-half was a cagey affair with few opportunities, one of which saw Sam Rathbone head over at the back post in the fourth minute.

With half-time approaching, Dene Whittal-Williams powered a header against the crossbar from Jack Cullity’s corner, before Rathbone got on the end of Hayes’ cross to fire wide.

Malvern were ahead within a minute of the restart.

Cullity chested the ball down to Wickett outside the area and his shot flew high into the top of the net, despite keeper Dan Pilkington getting fingertips to the ball.

Five minutes later, it was 2-0 when Rathbone played the ball to Reece King and he laid it back to Layton, who dispatched a fine volley from 25 yards.

It was 3-0 in the 54th minute, as Rathbone collected the ball, ran into the box and sent in a cross to the back post for Hayes to fire home.

Malvern were in the ascendancy and Hayes went close with a long-range lob, but the hosts added a fourth goal in the 72nd minute through Turner’s effort.

Ellesmere pulled a goal back three minutes later, when keeper Chris Pinder, replacing Chas Weaver, failed to claim a cross and the ball fell to Josh Parker, whose shot hit the bar and went in despite Layton’s efforts.