A HAT-TRICK from Luke Corbett climbed Malvern Town to seventh place in the West Midlands Regional Premier Division after they comfortbaly beat Bewdley Town 4-1 last night (Tuesday).
The striker netted his first goals for the club in style as Malvern made it four league wins out of five with a cruising win at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium.
Malvern took the lead in the 8th minute when a Bryan Craven corner was played to Luke Corbett, his first shot was blocked on the line but he fired the rebound into the back of the net.
But Malvern’s 1-0 lead only lasted for seven minutes as Bewdley equalised on the 15th minute as John Griffin netted from close range.
Bewdley could have taken the lead twelve minutes later but Dan Flowers’ strike dragged wide.
A minute later Malvern lost their captain Phil Harris to an injury and was replaced by Chris Parker.
But the visitors dominance continued after the alf hour mark when the dangerous Morris fired his effort over the bar.
Minutes later Malvern threatened again but Corbett’s effort was cleared off the line.
The hosts almost took the lead in the early moments of the second half when Reece King headed just wide a Matthew Turner cross.
Three minutes later a through ball by Turner to Corbett who squared the ball to Ben Hayes who was tackled just as he was about to shoot.
But the turning point of the game came in the 58th minute when the referee sent off Dan Flowers for elbowing Hayes in an off-the-ball incident.
Malvern soon made the most of their extra man the lead in the 65th minute when Craven played a wonderful ball through to Corbett who slotted the ball past the keeper to make it 2-1.
In the 74th minute Malvern nealry increased their lead when the impressive Turner weaved his way into the box, past three defenders but his shot hit the post.
Two minutes later a Dave Reynolds corner was headed straight to the keeper by Dene Whittal-Williams.
But Malvern’s pressure proved too much in the final moments when they were awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute after Simon Rudd deliberately handled the ball to stop Malvern adding a third.
Corbett stepped up and converted the penalty to mark his hat-trick.
And Malvern made it four just before full time when Reynolds chipped the ball over the keeper and into the net.
