MALVERN Town returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory away at Bishops Cleeve to strengthen their grip on a play-off place.
Goals from Piers Walton, Sam Clark and Joe Tumelty earned the points for the Hillsiders at Kayte Lane while Ross Langworthy scored from the penalty spot for the home side.
The result means Malvern sit second in the Southern League Division One South table, 11 points behind leaders Frome Town with a game in hand.
Malvern bounced back from the disappointment of losing late on against leaders Frome in their last outing.
Town dominated the first quarter of the game as Levi Francis fired a shot into the side netting before Luke Payne dragged an effort wide of the target.
The visitors continued to threaten as S Clark saw two efforts blocked while Lewis Clayton tipped Harry Clark’s strike behind for a corner after the shot came through a crowd of bodies.
Bishops Cleeve almost took the lead with their first meaningful attack as a combination of Josh Bishop and Charlie Johnson kept out Ben McLean’s attempt.
However, Malvern broke the deadlock on 36 minutes when Tumelty’s pull back travelled across the six-yard box and Walton tapped into an empty net despite the best efforts of Clayton.
And the visitors went close to a second goal moments later as H Clark’s shot fell into the path of Tumelty with Clayton prone on the floor but the Malvern player could not make clean contact with the ball.
Town doubled their lead on 56 minutes when S Clark headed Tumelty’s chipped cross into the corner of the net.
Malvern searched for a quickfire third goal as H Clark checked inside his marker and flashed a shot narrowly wide.
And the Hillsiders extended their lead on 61 minutes when Tumelty lashed a shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the penalty area with Clayton unable to keep the ball out.
Bishops Cleeve reduced the deficit five minutes later as Langworthy scored from the penalty spot after Bishop brought down Harry Williams in the box.
The home side went close again late on when Bishop made a save and grabbed the ball at the second attempt.
Cleeve had the ball in the net moments later only for the assistant’s flag to cut the home celebrations short.
Malvern are next in action against Brixham AFC on Saturday, January 31 with kick-off at 3pm at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium.
