RYAN Brunt scored a brace as Malvern Town beat Exmouth Town 3-1 to all but secure a play-off spot with a sixth successive victory.
Brunt opened the scoring early on before Levi Francis quickly doubled Malvern’s lead at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium.
And Brunt sealed the points for the Hillsiders from the penalty spot in first half injury time while Aarron Denny netted a late consolation for the visitors.
The result means Malvern sit second in the Southern League Division One South table and need just two points from their remaining five matches to secure a top-five finish.
Lee Hooper’s side made a blistering start and blow Exmouth away with two goals inside the opening 10 minutes.
Malvern broke the deadlock on five minutes when Brunt turned home Ben Baxter’s cross from the left at the back post.
And the Hillsiders doubled their lead four minutes later as Francis finished smartly after Exmouth goalkeeper Robbie Powell could only claw Joe Tumelty’s shot from six-yards out into the scorer’s path.
Town went close again moments later as Tumelty smashed a shot inches past the post from the edge of the penalty area.
The chances continued to come Malvern’s way when Luke Payne audacious effort from 40-yards out went just over the crossbar.
And the Hillsiders scored a third goal in first-half injury time when Brunt hooked home a flick-on from Charlie Johnson’s long throw to score a brace on his 50th appearance for the club.
Exmouth improved after the break as Tom Bath headed over when well-placed in the box while Josh Bishop kept out Ben Griffith’s powerful effort from 30-yards out.
Malvern responded with a chance of their own as Francis saw his cross deflected narrowly wide before the same player shot narrowly over and saw a shot smothered by Powell.
The home side should have added to their lead late on only for Piers Walton to somehow blazed the ball over the crossbar from four-yards out with the goal at his mercy.
Exmouth reduced the deficit two minutes from time when Denny turned the ball into the net after the Hillsiders failed to properly clear their lines after good work from Ace High.
Malvern are next in action against Tavistock AFC on Friday, April 3 with kick-off at 3pm at Langsford Park.
