A CATALOGUE of errors from Malvern Town saw Les Jones’ side comprehensively beaten for the second game in three days as they slumped to a less than impressive 6-2 defeat to Western League Premier outfit Bradford Town at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium.
Two goals apiece for Dan Cottle and Karim Rendall and one each from Leon Greenland and Chris Pick ensured the Wiltshire-based outfit ran out comfortable winners on a mistake-filled afternoon for a Malvern side who have now conceded 13 in their last two outings.
A penalty from Sean Smith and an injury time header from Harry Wickett provided the Hillsiders with consolation goals after Bradford were reduced to ten men following the sending off of Jack Hopper.
From the get-go it was Bradford who emerged the stronger of the two sides and inside five minutes they were awarded a penalty after Aaron Richards hacked down Rendall in the area.
Rendall took the penalty but his initial effort was saved by Charlie Weaver, however, with nobody chasing the loose ball, Rendall slammed home to put the Bobcats 1-0 up.
Malvern started to grow into the game after their early setback and their first opportunity of the game came in the 16th minute but Nathan Hughes could only head into the arms of Jamie Bartlett.
Hughes was subsequently substituted following his chance after a clash of heads with Hopper.
Six minutes later the visitors found themselves 2-0 up as a poor header back from Dene Whittal-Williams to Weaver saw Cottle latch on to the loose ball before calmly slotting home.
Bradford got their third of the afternoon in the 29th minute after some nice link-up play saw Cottle break free once again before putting the ball into the back of the net with aplomb.
Some hope for Malvern was restored five minutes later when Hopper was sent off for a rugby-style tackle on Reece King.
Malvern ended the half stronger with Matthew Turner getting the last opportunity of the first period but he could only curl a tame effort into the arms of Bartlett.
After the interval, the Hillsiders came out the blocks fastest and hit the woodwork twice in the space of a minute as Platt and Dave Reynolds smashed the post and crossbar from close range respectively.
Their misses proved costly as Bradford grabbed their fourth goal of the afternoon in the 55th minute when Peck latched on to a deflected free-kick to smash the visitors into an unassailable lead.
Less than a minute later and the Bobcats were on the scoresheet once more when a clinical counter-attack saw Rickie Scott cross to Rendall at the far post who stabbed the ball home to make it 5-0.
Greenland added Bradford’s sixth on the hour mark after calmly tapping home from Mark Wall’s pass across goal.
A difficult afternoon for the Hillsiders finally reaped some rewards when they were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute for a handball.
Smith took up the responsibility and sent Bartlett the wrong way to net a consolation.
Malvern grabbed their second and the final goal of the game in the first minute of injury time following a wonderful corner routine.
Smith laid the ball off to Platt who whipped in a delicious cross into the penalty area where Wickett nodded the ball into the back of the net with the help of the far post.