MALVERN TOWN RESERVES 3, ALVECHURCH RESERVES 2

MALVERN Town Reserves started brightly for the first ten minutes of this WFA Junior Cup game and then eased off allowing Alvechurch to get into their stride.

With half an hour played a sweeping move of one-touch football saw the ball played across the field into the path of Adam Pearshouse who opened the scoring for the visitors with a low, hard drive. Alvechurch kept pressing and a well-timed pass from midfield caught Town's defence flat-footed and Luke Larden raced through unopposed giving keeper Tom Shepherd no chance with goal number two.

A dressing down at half-time by messrs Pallett and Jones together with the introduction of fresh legs had the desired affect and Malvern came out all guns blazing. Youth players James Gifford and Phil Harris combined well to find Paul Edwards in the 18-yard box where he was pushed two-handed in the back and Ollie Endacott dispatched the resultant penalty with style.

Two minutes later Town were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out and Rob Cullen rose well and headed on to Mike Roberts, who nipped in and slipped the ball past keeper Adam Marnsiak for a well deserved equaliser.

With their tails up Malvern dominated the match as Alvechurch visibly tired. Another moved started by Harris found Gifford, who crossed for Rob Cullen and he steadied himself before curling the ball around two defenders and the keeper for a superb finish.

Town had several opportunities to finish the game in style when Endacott cracked one shot off the crossbar and upright and minutes later fired over from close range.