ROTHWELLL TOWN 0, MALVERN TOWN 1

MALVERN Town returned from Rothwell Town with three hard-earned Southern League Midlands Division One points on Saturday.

After all of the incidents of the previous week, Paul Molloy made five signings and received a vote of confidence from the Malvern Town committee.

Three of the signings, Stuart Renchor, Chris Hughes and Matt Aubrey all made their debuts for the club.

Malvern were kicking downhill in the first half and the first opportunity fell to Chris Hughes in the 22nd minute. After the ball was played into the area, he fired his shot over the bar and minute later he found the target but his shot was held by Rothwell keeper Tom Smith.

The play was end to end and it the 26 minutes, Rothwell's Scott Cross shot wide of the post and in the 35 minute Steven Purton ran up the left wing and crossed the ball which went right across the Malvern goal but no-one was available to tap the ball in.

Rothwell started the second half brightly and Scott Cross shot straight at Lewis Skyers in the Malvern goal.

Malvern took the lead in the 51st minute, Simon Baker played a great through ball from the half way line to Andy Crowther, who ran to the by-line and crossed into the area where Jamie Hyde was waiting at the back post to head home.

In the final 20 minutes, Rothwell went looking for the equaliser and Malvern were pushed back deeper and deeper trying to defend their lead, but the Malvern defence of Simon Baker, Pete Boyle, Matt Aubrey and Aaron Drake and keeper Lewis Skyers held firm, although Michael Horton shot just over the bar in the 76th minute from a corner.

Malvern are still next to bottom in the table but have now closed the gap on Rothwell.