MALVERN TOWN were held to a 3-3 draw at Dudley Town as the hosts came from behind twice to claim a share of the spoils.
Top scorer Dave Reynolds and Luke Corbett fired Malvern into a 2-0 lead after 25 minutes but Paul Oakley and a penalty from Lee Smith levelled the scores after 39 minutes.
Corbett added a second on the stroke of half-time but another goal from Oakley in the 66th minute saw the two teams walk away with a point.
The result sees Malvern climb up to sixth in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division table.
Dudley started the game the more brightly of the two and forced Chas Weaver into a good string of saves in the early exchanges, including a one-on-one situation which he dealt with brilliantly.
Despite the early pressure, Malvern settled and took the lead from their first meaningful opportunity.
A wonderful through ball from Bryan Craven was met by Ben Hayes who rounded keeper Robert Dalloway, crossed to Matthew Turner who knocked the ball down for Reynolds to slot home.
Reynolds almost double the advantage 10 minutes later but after being forced wide from Hayes’ through ball, he struck his effort into the side netting.
Three minutes later it was 2-0 to Malvern as Corbett fired home at the back post after collecting Hayes’ cross.
Dudley forced themselves back into the game in the 35th minute as he headered home from a corner to reduce the arrears.
Four minutes later Dudley were awarded a penalty after Brodie Williams was bundled over in the area.
Smith converted the penalty to make it 2-2.
However, Malvern regained the lead on the stroke of half time as Corbett tapped the ball home from Harry Wickett’s threaded through ball.
After the interval, Malvern wasted good opportunities to pull further ahead as Corbett and Reynolds fired over the bar.
This proved costly as in the 66th minute, Dudley drew level for the second time in the game as Oakley poked home from Smith’s pass.
In added time, Smith was shown a red card after picking up his second booking to end an eventful afternoon at the Dell Stadium.
Picture courtesy of Cliff Williams
