MALVERN TOWN RESERVES 0, BIRCHILLS 1

MALVERN Town Reserves entertained top of the table Birchills on Saturday and with the exception of the first 15 minutes played some superb football.

Birchills started the better of the two sides and went close to scoring when John Freeman headed wide in the opening minutes. With 15 minutes played John Quilt was well placed on the edge of the box, and his well timed shot dipped over keeper Mark Wright to give Birchills a deserved lead.

From that moment on Malvern upped their game and created a host of chances and were unfortunate not to draw level. Skipper Jamie Thomas picked out Anthony Burton with a free-kick and Burton headed over the crossbar. Ten minutes later Tom Crump delivered a free-kick and this time Joe Leighton headed over keeper and crossbar.

An attack up the left-wing saw Dale Humphries lay a superb ball into the path of Rob Cullen and his shot was cleared off the line by a defender. Just before the break Quilt had a golden opportunity to score his second with a powerful header and this time Wright did well to tip the ball over the crossbar.

In the second-half Malvern played their best football so far this season and ran the opposition ragged.

Tom Crump delivered some superb balls into the box and on one occasion forced a good save out of keeper Matt Gee and on another Joel Morris and Leighton both failed to connect with the ball as it fell between them.

Phil Harris robbed a defender and good interpassing between him and Craig Selby almost saw Town on the scoresheet. One more opportunity fell to Liam Paddock and he was frustrated by a defender, who cleared off the line.

With this one-way traffic and total domination by Malvern, Birchills did all they could to slow the game down and waste time, and were delighted to hear the final whistle.