DUNSTABLE TOWN 4, MALVERN TOWN 2

MALVERN Town travelled in pouring rain to Dunstable on Saturday and whilst starting off brightly returned home with nothing.

Both sides started well and in the fifth minute Ross Hanley hit the side netting for the home side.

Malvern took the lead in the 8th minute when the ball was played through to Mathew Wood, who ran on and then swerved the ball round Dunstable's keeper Paul Taylor.

Ross Hanley looked dangerous and soon brought a very good save from Lewis Skyers in the Malvern goal.

Malvern increased their lead in the 20th minute when the ball was played through to Justin Marsden, who fired home past the home keeper.

Two minutes later, Chris Marsh had a fierce shot tipped over the bar by Skyers. From the resulting corner Neil Perrin fired home.

Dunstable continued to press and in the 31st minute a Daniel Picknell shot was pushed over the bar by Skyers. The corner came in and although it was cleared it fell to Aaron Flood whose shot took a deflection from Justin Jarrett, Malvern latest signing from Tamworth, and flew into the net for the equaliser.

Despite a shot by Andy Jones in the 56th minute which was caught by keeper Paul Taylor, Malvern could not get going in the second half.

With conditions in their favour, Dunstable pushed up field and piled on the pressure.

Chris Marsh made it 3-2 in the 60th minute and Steve Pratt added in fourth in the 66th minute. Marsh thought he had made it five when he went on the run down the left side-stepped Skyers and shot towards goal, but his teammate Shane Wood tapped it over the line and, as he was offside when the original shot was struck the effort was ruled offside.

Malvern always knew the fixture would be difficult and with two players suspended and one at college the side had a lot of changes, but if they can playe the way they started,things should continue to improve.