CHARLIE Johnson’s extra-time winner sent Malvern Town into the Southern League Division One South play-off final following a dramatic 3-2 victory against Bishops Cleeve.
Johnson’s corner went directly into the net nine minutes into the extra period at Kayte Lane to leave Malvern one game away from securing a historic promotion to Step Three.
The Hillsiders took the lead courtesy of Sam Clark’s goal only for Ross Langworthy and Jay Malshankskyj to turn the game on its head.
However, Jack Watts drew Malvern level after the break before Johnson scored directly from a corner to stun the home side and send Malvern into the play-off final.
The victory means Malvern will play local rivals Evesham United in the play-off final.
However, Evesham will have home advantage in the final by virtue of finishing higher in the league table than Malvern.
Malvern broke the deadlock on 16 minutes when S Clark slid in to finish from close range after Harry Clark’s initial effort hit the inside of the post.
However, Bishops Cleeve equalised on 24 minutes as Langworthy produced a clinical finish into the top left corner from just inside the penalty area.
And the home side completed the turnaround on 36 minutes with a breakaway goal as Langworthy squared the ball to Malshankskyj who finished into an empty net.
Malvern searched for a way back into the game after the break and won a penalty on 70 minutes when Joshua Nelmes fouled substitute Ryan Brunt in the box.
And Watts stepped up to draw the Hillsiders level from the spot as he smashed the resulting penalty into the bottom right corner.
The game went to extra time and Malvern reclaimed the lead on 99 minutes when Johnson’s corner from the right looped over Lewis Clayton and into the net.
And Malvern held on in the remaining minutes to book their place in the play-off final.
Malvern travel to Evesham in the play-off final on Monday, May 5 with kick-off at 3pm at the Spiers and Hartwell Stadium.
