CHARLIE Johnson scored directly from a corner in extra time to seal a historic win for Malvern Town in the play-off semi finals.
With everything level after normal time between The Hillsiders and Bishops Cleeve, Johnson scored a dramatic winner from the corner flag to send his side through to the finals.
The first real chance of the game fell for Malvern talisman Jack Watts. Joe Tumelty went on a marauding run forward and switched play the forward.
Watts cut in and looked to curl an effort towards the top corner from outside the box. Cleeve keeper Lewis Clayton was equal to the effort and did enough to tip the ball over the bar.
Malvern maintained their early pressure and moments later they came good. Harry Clark found space and struck an effort that cascaded back out off the inside of the post. Sam Clark was lying in wait for the rebound effort and reacted quickest to poke home from close in, handing The Hillsiders the advantage.
Bishops Cleeve, finding themselves a goal down, amped up the pressure.
They first came close through an effort from Ethan Dunbar. A fantastic save from Ryan Smallwood ensured the shot came to nothing, before a second vital stop was made by the young keeper - reacting well to turn another Dunbar effort wide.
However moments later, the sides sat back level. Captain Ross Langworthy received the ball on the right of the pitch and fired the ball across the face of goal, finding the top left corner.
Bishops Cleeve continued to pile on the pressure following their goal and would take the lead themselves before the halftime break. Again it was Langworthy who latched onto a through ball, beating Dion Molyneux in a footrace.
He broke free before playing the ball around Ryan Smallwood for Jay Malshankskyj to tap it home.
Bishops Cleeve started the second half as they had finished the first and challenged Malvern almost immediately but as the half wore on, Malvern grew back into the affair.
With 25 minutes to go, The Hillsiders brought forward Ryan Brunt on, in place of defender Dion Molyneux as they looked to draw level.
And draw level they did. Charlie Johnson fired the ball up-field, finding Watts. He flicked it into the area where the experienced Brunt was tripped chasing through.
The referee pointed to the spot, Watts dispatched the effort and left Clayton with no chance.
Malvern kept pushing after drawing level and continually knocked on the door.
Deep into stoppage time, Ryan Brunt struck a curling effort from distance. His shot beat Clayton but agonisingly rattled out off the crossbar.
The sides could not be split after the full 90 and the game headed into extra time.
With the pressure on, up stepped the hero Charlie Johnson.
Tasked with delivering a corner, Johnson sent in an in-swinging cross which evaded the Malvern and the Cleeve players, before nestling in the top corner.
Johnson turned and bowed to the jubilant Malvern fans, having bagged the most important goal in Malvern Town's history in truly emphatic fashion.
Johnson's goal sealed the deal on the night and Malvern Town powered through to the play-off final.
They will play away to Evesham United in a Worcestershire derby, where one of the sides will seal promotion to step three.
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