MALVERN Town slipped to their first defeat in the league since January after losing 5-3 against Bristol Manor Farm in an eight-goal thriller.
The Hillsiders led on three separate occasions at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium only for Bristol Manor Farm to produce a second half comeback.
A sublime lob from Joe Tumelty put Malvern ahead only for Brad Selwood to draw the visitors level.
Lee Hooper’s side reclaimed the lead courtesy of Ryan Brunt’s penalty before Tom Symons equalised for Bristol on the stroke of half time.
However, Brunt netted his second of the game moments before the break to bring an end to a frantic first period.
The visitors equalised for a third time just before the hour mark as Brandon Bak finished from close range.
And Bak wrapped up the points at the death after Abdoulie Tunkara’s stunner put Bristol ahead with 10 minutes left to play.
The defeat brings an end to Malvern’s extraordinary 23-game unbeaten run in the league since January.
Despite the defeat, Malvern remain top of the Southern League Division One South table.
Hillsiders undone by late goals in thriller
Malvern broke the deadlock in style on 13 minutes when Tumelty lobbed the ball over the Bristol goalkeeper from Joe Bullock’s lofted pass.
However, Bristol drew level on 21 minutes as Malvern goalkeeper Seth Locke missed his kick and Selwood profited to finish into an empty net.
The home side reclaimed the lead on 34 minutes when Brunt scored from the penalty spot after Sam Clark drew a foul in the box.
The visitors drew level for a second time on 44 minutes as Symons saw his corner from the right travel over Locke and directly into the net via the aid of the post.
However, Brunt restored Malvern’s lead in first-half injury time when he slotted home Ben Baxter’s cross from the left.
Bristol equalised for a third time after the break on 57 minutes as Bak finished Aysa Corrick’s low ball in from the left from close range.
And the visitors stunned the Hillsiders 10 minutes from time when Tunkara curled a low effort into the bottom right corner from 20-yards out.
The home side searched for a way back into the game only for Bak to score his second of the match in injury time with a finish underneath Locke.
Malvern are next in action against Lincoln United in the FA Trophy on Saturday, September 20 with kick-off at 3pm at Ashby Avenue.
