LIVE! Malvern Town v Evesham United

Well, don't fret the soccer season is just around the corner.

Join sports editor Mark Stanford from 2pm on Saturday for Malvern Town's first pre-season friendly against Evesham.

LIVE! From Langland Stadium.5.32pm: MALVERN Town's pre-season friendly programme got off to a dismal start as they were outclassed by Evesham United.

Goals from Michael Batchelor, Leon Woodley, Danny Lennon, Danny Scheppel and an own goal from defender Jay Thomas capped off a poor afternoon for the home side at Langland Stadium.

Malvern, missing at least eight first-team regulars, got off to the worst possible start in the 12th minute as Danny Scheppel lunged in to convert a cross from the right to open Evesham's account.

Danny Lennon doubled his side's lead nine minutes later as his shot from six yards looped over a stranded keeper Craig Humphries. Malvern's only efforts of the first period both fell to Darran Andrews, as Humphries saved his side with two good stops before the interval.

There was some glimmer of hope for Malvern at the start of the second-half as Evesham's crisp, passing football was thwarted by a stubborn home defence.

But just as Malvern looked to be coming back into the game, Evesham gave them a sucker punch with a third through Leon Woodley on 66 minutes after he carved open the Malvern backline.

The home side's only chance of note in the second-half came on 69 minutes as striker Joe Kings produced a save from the Evesham substitute keeper after he was put through by skipper Jamie Hyde.

The fourth strike followed two minutes later as defender Jay Thomas lunged in to convert a low cross from the Evesham right.

As numerous substitutions were made, rampant Evesham completed their goalscoring flurry with a fifth on 75 minutes to go after Michael Batchelor sprang up with a far post header from a corner.

4.48pm- FULL TIME: Malvern Town 0-5 Evesham United.

4.31pm- GOAL! Evesham pile on the misery for Malvern, making it five on 75 minutes, after Michael Batchelor heads in a far post corner.

4.27pm- GOAL! A fourth for Evesham is an own goal from Jay Thomas, who diving in, converts a low cross from the right on 71.

4.25pm- Malvern's first chance of the second-half sees Joe Kings effort produces a save from Evesham's subsitute keeper after being fed through by skipper Jamie Hyde on 69 minutes.

4.22pm- GOAL! Evesham make it three nil on 66 minutes, carving open the Town backline and number 16 Leon Woodley, the substitute scores with a low effort. Good football from the visitors, just as Town had put up some resistance.

4.20pm- On 64 minutes, the impressive Gary Hay sees his low shot go agonisingly wide of Humphries left-hand post. Town are improving this half without getting in the Evesham half.

4.15pm- A double substitution from Evesham breaks up a lull in proceedings.

4.08pm- Humphries again saves Malvern, this time with his feet on 51, after Hayden has a shot from a crisp move involving Scheppel.

4.06pm- Evesham's Gary Hay has the first chance of the second period, hitting an effort just over the Town bar.

3.59pm- SECOND HALF GETS UNDERWAY. Evesham make three changes at the interval. Lennon, M Hands and Fitter are all off. No changes for Malvern.

3.49pm- HALF-TIME: Malvern Town 0-2 Evesham United.

3.45pm- On 43 minutes Humphries again saves Malvern with a stop from a Danny Lennon shot which goes out for a corner.

3.32pm- Humphries makes a point blank save from six yards out from Evesham's Gary Hay. Town then respond by making a triple substitution on the half-hour mark.

3.23pm- GOAL! Evesham take a two nil lead through Danny Lennon after he loops a shot from six yards out over keeper Humphries, from a superb quick cross from Gary Hay.

3.19pm- Second chance for Town's Andrews saved from 18 yards out.

3.14pm- GOAL! Evesham take a one nil lead on 12 minutes after a fine finish from Danny Scheppel following a cross from the right. Evesham carve them open a minute later and Hnads sees his shot go over.

3.11pm- Shot in the box from Steve Lutz goes wide for Evesham.

3.08pm- After a bright start from Evesham, Town have games first chance through a shot from Andrews, saved by the keeper on two minutes.

3pm- KICK-OFF: Town are playing in yellow shirts, royal blue shorts and socks. Evesham are in red and white striped shirts, white shorts and red socks.

2.54pm- The two teams are back in their respective dressing rooms getting ready for kick-off in under 10 minutes time. It's perfect conditions for the match- beautiful sunshine here at Langland.

2.41pm- TODAY'S TEAMS.

MALVERN TOWN (4-4-2 formation): 1-Craig Humphries, 2-Andy Bullock, 3- Aaron Drake, 4- Jay Thomas, 5- Adam Harris, 6- Jamie Hyde, 7- Darran Andrews, 8- Lorcan Sheehan, 9- Craig Malins, 10- Joe Kings, 11- Lewis Loader.

SUBS: Lewis Critcher, Mason Mansfield, Gareth Morgan, Dave Colley, Neill Hacking (sub goalkeeper).

EVESHAM UNITED: 1- Daniel Adey, 2- Anthony Watson, 11- Liam McDonald, 4- Danny Hodnett, 3- Steve Hands, 6- Steve Lutz, 7- Simon Fitter, 8- Mark Hands, 10- Danny Lennon, 9- Gary Hay, 5- Danny Scheppel.

SUBS: 12- Mark Owen, 14- Michael Hayden, 15- Paul Bonar, 16- Leon Wordley, 17- Michael Batchelor.

2.15pm- Both teams are on the pitch starting their warm-ups for the match which kicks-off at 3pm.

2.01pm- PROGRAMME NOTES: Malvern boss Joe Rawle is looking at this afternon's match as a tough test for some of his youngsters to see if they will able to cut it once the season gets underway.

Town are missing at least eight players today as they take on Evesham.

Rawle said: "Today is all about fitness, get the first friendly out of the way and then start judging if they will make it.

"I'm not looking for a result, I'm looking for a performance more than anything.

"With at least eight missing it gives us a chance to look at one or two players.

"There's a few questions that will be answered today on one or two of the lads."

On their opponents, the manager said: "Evesham should be really strong. They will have bound to have strengthened for their new campaign."