MALVERN Town co-manager Lee Hooper was delighted to see his side bounce back from defeat with a convincing 4-1 victory at fellow high-fliers Haughmond.

On a blustery afternoon in Shropshire, early goals from Adam Sauntson and Harry Clark put Town in command in the West Midlands League Premier Division clash.

Haughmond struck back before George Hayes' second-half brace for fifth-placed Malvern sealed victory as the hosts slipped down from second to third.

Town visit Black Country Rangers in sixth on Tuesday (7.45pm) looking to cement their top-five spot.

Hooper, whose side crashed 4-1 at home to local rivals Hereford Lads Club the previous weekend, said: “It was a phenomenal response from the lads.

“We’ve managed to put things right against a really top team in this league.

“We set up to stop them playing so to get ourselves two goals up early on was great.

“They created a number of chances during the first half but we kept them out and stopped them from getting through us.

“We pushed on after the break in difficult conditions but on a nice surface we passed the ball well and got the goals to seal the win.

“It’s a case of being able to build upon it now. We can’t let our guard down and we’ll go to Black Country Rangers determined to add to our points tally.”

Malvern went ahead with their first serious attack when Matt Turner and Clark linked up well to force a corner which was headed firmly in by Sauntson.

It was not long before Town doubled their advantage when Aaron Griffiths made good progress out wide and his cross found Hayes who teed up Clark to fire home.

Malvern keeper Charlie Weaver made a smart double save while another towering header from Sauntson at the other end forced a stop.

The hosts pulled a goal back on 21 minutes when a strike from just outside the area took a wicked deflection to loop over the keeper.

But Weaver then prevented an equaliser and Malvern went close on half-time when the keeper denied Turner.

The visitors' Dave Reynolds went close in the second half before Hayes turned home Malvern's third just before the hour from close range after Louis Loader's strike was spilled.

Malvern defended in numbers and the lively Hayes sealed the victory by turning home Turner's assist in the final minute.

Malvern: Weaver, Webb (Smith 85), Griffiths, A Sauntson, J Sauntson, Febery (Fusco 87), Hayes, Loader, Reynolds, Turner (Noke 89), Clark. Subs not used: Hooper, Whittal-Williams.