Highgate United 5, Malvern Town 4.

MALVERN Town lost out to an injury-time winner in a thrilling Baker Joiner Midland Alliance clash.

In the 11th minute, Town’s Craig Selby had a 25-yard shot which Highgate goalkeeper Shawn Hoccum pushed it out for a corner.

From the resulting flag-kick, Craig Gasiewski standing at the near post, headed the ball into his own net.

Malvern increased their lead six minutes later when goalkeeper Julian Robinson launched a long goal-kick to Ross Kendall who rounded Hoccum and fired home.

Highgate’s only chance in the first-half fell in the 28th minute when Gasiewski tried to atone for his own-goal but Robinson blocked the shot.

Three minutes later, Town’s Craig Frampton hit a free-kick from near the half-way line into the box where Stuart Hall knocked it to Danny Byford to slot home.

Just before the break the ball was played out to Damien Fearn, who rounded his defender but his shot was weak as he was off-balance.

In time added on, a Malvern ball from the left brushed the crossbar.

At the start of the second-half Highgate brought on two attacking substitutes and, with the wind now in their favour and getting stronger, decided to attack with four forwards.

This move quickly paid off as they earned a free-kick which Robinson pushed out, but it fell to Trevor Edwards to fire home from 25 yards.

Malvern still continued to play good football and the forward line of Ross Kendall, Hall and Damien Fearn were playing well together. In the 52nd minute the ball was played between the visiting forwards and Fearns’ shot just missed the angle of the post and crossbar.

Four minutes later Kendall’s ball to Fearn saw a defender cut across just in time and knock it out for a corner.

On the hour mark, Highgate’s Matthew Collins fired wide from the left, but a minute later Tom Stone fired the host’s second.

In the 72nd minute Malvern substitute Jack McEvoy found Hall, who volleyed home from the edge of the area.

But this spurred Highgate on and Lawrence O’Neill, one of their half-time substitutes who was proving to be a handful, missed a shot in the 74th minute.

A minute later Robinson could only push the ball out to O’Neill who fired across the goal and it rolled along the goal-line, hit the far post, and trickle over the line with the aid of the wind.

By now it was end-to-end and, seven minutes from time, Kendall put Hall through but a defender got in the way of his shot.

Highgate drew level in the 86th minute when Liam Florey lasted the ball into the net from the right-hand side.

Two minutes later the ball was played to Hall whose shot hit the post, it fell to Selby, who steadied himself but it was cleared off the line by Toby Checketts.

Well into time added on, Malvern cleared the ball from the edge of the area but the referee blew for a free-kick right in front of the goal just outside the area.

The visitors lined up a wall but the ball fell to Collins, who fired into the bottom corner of the net to give Highgate the win and leave Malvern dejected.