MALVERN Town had to work hard for a 5-1 victory at lowly Shifnal Town in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

The visitors went close through Dan Noke and Matt Fusco before Dave Reynolds rattled the bar with a strike.

Malvern finally opened the scoring on 20 minutes when Kyonn Evans fired home a powerful drive.

Bryan Craven’s effort was tipped over by the keeper before Shifnal shocked Malvern with an equaliser on the break on the half-hour mark.

Harry Wickett forced another save from the home keeper and Curtis Smith had appeals for a penalty denied on the stroke of half-time.

It took until the 72nd minute for Malvern to regain the lead as Noke played through Reynolds who stayed cool to slot home.

Just minutes later James Febery and Evans combined for Reynolds who lashed the ball into the net.

Malvern’s Charlie Weaver kept the lead intact with a save before they extended the lead on 82 minutes when Louis Loader set Reynolds away and his strike across the keeper was touched in on the line by Fusco.

They completed the scoring on 87 minutes when Matt Turner went through only for the keeper to block but Fusco found the net with a delicious chip.

Fourth-placed Malvern host higher-ranked Midland League Premier Division side Quorn in the Smedley Crooke Cup semi-finals tonight (7.45pm).

Their final two league games of the season are also at the HDanywhere Community Stadium — against Smethwick Rangers on Saturday and Pegasus Juniors the following weekend.

Malvern: Weaver, Wickett, Smith, J Sauntson, Noke, Hayes (Turner 58), Craven (Febery 65), Loader (Webb 85), Fusco, Reynolds, Evans. Subs not used: A Sauntson, Hooper.