Malvern Town 5, Cradley Town 1.

A STORMING five-goal display by Malvern Town was enough for them to see off bottom-placed Cradley Town in this Aspire Midland Alliance clash. This game was billed as a six-pointer and it certainly started off that way with the ball hitting the back of the net three times in the first five minutes.

But only one goal counted as the other two were ruled out for offside.

Malvern took the lead after only two minutes when Mike Rhodes, making his league debut for the club, slotted the ball home after the ball had been worked down the left.

A minute later he found Craig Selby who cleverly chipped the keeper, Richard Kennedy.

But this effort was adjudged offside by the assistant referee and two minutes later Cradley played the ball up the right and Benjamin Store fired the ball into the net only to see the other assistant waving his flag.

After this initial opening thrust play settled down and both teams started to play the ball around the park. Malvern increased their lead after 20 minutes when Andrew Crosskey went down the left-hand side of the pitch and weaved his way into the box and scored.

Five minutes into the second period Cradley were given a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area.

Daniel Ludlow cracked in a sparkling free-kick into the top left-hand corner of the net with Lewis unable to reach it.

The goal only spurred Malvern on and heavy pressure resulted in three goals in eight minutes.

In the 57th minute, following a fine team move, it was played to Selby to side foot the ball home.

Four minutes later, following a free-kick on the half- way line, the ball was played to Rhodes whose shot hit the underside of the crossbar and went into the net.

In the 65th minute, Crosskey grabbed his second after he weaved his way into the box and fired home.

Cradley still did not give up hope and started to push but found goalkeeper Lewis Skyers in outstanding form and he brought off some wonderful saves to prevent any further goals.

Malvern Town’s Reserves side has disbanded for this season but will review the situation at the end of the year concerning their plans for next year.