LEE Hooper admits ‘momentum in football is mad’ after Malvern Town maintained their play-off push with a 1-0 victory against Cribbs.
The Hillsiders secured a fifth straight victory as Sam Clark scored the game’s only goal shortly before half time at The Lawns.
The result means Malvern sit sixth in the Southern League Division One South table, two points outside of the play-off places.
And Hooper is only looking forward as the Hillsiders continue to close the gap to the teams in the top-five.
Hooper said: “It could have been more, we created quite a few chances but the way we dug in and held out for the win was really pleasing.
“We weren’t under the cosh at all but we controlled the game, they didn’t trouble us much but they stayed in the game and were waiting for that one opportunity.
“We weren’t clinical enough, we could have put the game to bed by half time and we knew they were going to come out and give it a go in the second half.
“It was a good away performance and we’ve got the win, if you get three points it’s job done.
“How you get them, sometimes it’s not as satisfying and a bit more nervy than other times, the lads have put in a great shift and left everything out there.
“The run continues, momentum in football is mad, it’s incredible to think the way we’re playing and the things we’re doing now when you rewind back to that rut we were in [around Christmas].
“All we can do is look forward and it’s credit to the lads that everybody has put a shift in for this run of wins.
“We hope the fans continue to come, hopefully we can add to it, it’s Non-League Day, the support and revenue that comes in is vital.
“The awareness the day brings to non-league football is vital, there’s a lot of volunteers involved and people are quite shocked when they see the football we play.
“We’ve got people who have come for the first time and followed us home and away ever since and hopefully we can get a few more.”
Malvern almost made the perfect start as Cribbs goalkeeper Jack Witchard kept out Harry Clark’s effort inside the first minute.
And Cribbs stopper Witchard then tipped Levi Francis’ shot from the edge of the penalty area over the crossbar.
The visitors went close soon after as S Clark’s clever flick from a corner hit the base of the post and bounced to safety.
And Malvern spurned another chance when Jack Watts cut in from the left and beat a couple of defenders only to shoot straight at Witchard.
However, the Hillsiders eventually broke the deadlock five minutes before the break as S Clark powered a shot into the top right corner following a set-piece.
And Watts almost doubled Malvern’s lead moments later when his low shot beat the keeper only to strike the foot of the post.
Malvern picked up where they left off after the interval, despite playing against the wind, as Witchard denied Watts with his feet.
The visitors created another chance just past the hour mark as Lewis Spurrier fired a shot against Witchard from just inside the penalty area.
And another opening went begging later in the half as substitute Joe Tumelty shot inches past the post when one-on-one with Witchard.
Town dug in to seal the points as the Hillsiders continued their fine run of form.
Malvern are next in action against Bashley on Saturday, March 22 with kick-off at 3pm at HDAnywhere Community Stadium.
