UPTON Town preserved their unbeaten Cheltenham Association League Division One home record in familiar style with another draw.

After the 1-1 tie with third-placed Churchdown Panthers, they have won four and drawn six of their 10 games at The Hill Centre.

But the hosts started nervously and had keeper Chris Darby to thank for an early one-on-one save.

Town began to threaten and missed two fine chances when Kristian Richardson lashed over a low cross and Will Lloyd headed wide when unmarked at the back post.

Ryan Upfield attacked well from right-back and fired narrowly off target from a tight angle.

But Tom Crump gave Town the lead on 25 minutes, catching the keeper out with a long-range free-kick that swerved wickedly in the air.

Churchdown’s keeper made flying saves from Crump and Nicholas Chance but the visitors grabbed an equaliser with a dipping free-kick.

Town went back on the attack and Matt Hindmarsh hit the bar with a fierce left-footed effort from 25 yards.

John Ditchburn and Richardson had efforts controversially chalked off for offside.

In the second-half, Chance fired narrowly wide from distance and the Churchdown keeper denied Richardson, Crump and Hindmarsh.

Then Hindmarsh evaded several tackles and netted but it was disallowed for an apparent foul on a defender.

Frustrated Town lost concentration briefly as Darby stopped a powerful long-range effort.

Luke Kitchen made a welcome return after six months out with a torn Achilles and came within inches of scoring with a free-kick.

Lloyd scuffed wide from close range but Upton could not find a winner.

Meanwhile, Malvern Vale had three players sent off as they slumped to an 8-0 defeat to Cheltenham United in the Cheltenham League’s GMB Minor Plate final.

Against their Division Six promotion rivals at Cheltenham’s All Saints Academy, Simon Hardiman, Ashley Jones and Stuart Hill all received their marching orders for two bookings.

Vale beat Regency Town 5-0 in the league with goals from Dan Stowe (3), Hardiman and Jones.

The second string crashed 12-2 to Belmont Wanderers in Herefordshire League Division Three with Jack Weatherby among the scorers.