Match report: Bashley FC came up against an inspired Malvern Town FC, who won 5-1 to bolster their Southern League Division One South promotion play-off push

BASHLEY levelled the match early on, but promotion-chasing Malvern Town had more desire than their counterparts on Saturday, with the mid-table having very little to play for besides professional pride.

The Hillsiders took the lead before veteran striker Brett Williams equalised. However, Malvern scored three more before Williams grabbed a second, and a fifth strike denied Bashley the privilege of having the final say.

Malvern came into the match in red-hot form – nine wins and a draw in their last ten games – a form guide Bash could only dream about after so many recent misfortunes on and off the field.

There was a new face in the Bashley line-up, with 18-year-old AFC Bournemouth rookie Will Seeley, a goalkeeper who first met his new teammates an hour before the game.

When Bash got going as an attacking force, young Jamie Power, filling one of the vacant midfield slots, led a breakaway, which ended with a shot that kept home keeper Josh Bishop on his toes.

Power, a star for Bashley U23s this season, was involved in another clever build-up with Connor Bent.

After 18 minutes, it started to go pear-shaped. Malvern’s Joe Bullock cut in from the left and fired a shot that Seeley did well to parry, but the ball rebounded perfectly for Bullock to slot home.

With 27 minutes on the clock, skipper-for-the-day Brett Williams took advantage of a mix-up in the Malvern defence and neatly clipped the ball over the keeper into the bottom left corner.

The lead lasted just four minutes. After winning a free kick on the edge of the area, referee Mark Reilly upped it to a penalty kick, which Jack Watts dispensed, sending young Seeley the wrong way.

Bashley’s ire with the referee only increased moments later when he waved away penalty appeals after Conor Whiteley was brought down heavily at the other end.

Moments before the break, Bashley’s the ball in midfield after a smart interception, sparking a quick counter-attack. The ball was played through to Lewis Spurrier, who slipped it under the advancing Seeley.

Bashley knew the next goal would be crucial, and they almost found it multiple times. Power continued to show well, settinglinesman’sBent, who shot wide before Whiteley brought the best out of keeper Bishop, who had to dive left to keep out a goal-bound effort.

With 66 minutes played, a free kick wide left was headed down by Lewis Platt, whose shot was cleared but only as far as the edge of the box, where Spurrier fired home spectacularly to make it 4-1.

Scott Bungay joined the fray, and he livened Bashley’s attacking efforts. He featured in the best Bash move of the game in the closing minutes. Power set him up with a through-ball, Bungay squared it, and Williams did the rest.

The spoil-sport hosts refused to let Bashley enjoy their consolation, with Ryan Brunt stabbing the ball home after a blocked effort fell perfectly to his foot.

Bashley returns to the Veho Stadium when they take on Cinderford Town on Saturday.

Bashley: W. Seeley, H. Bertrand, J. Bertie, T. Edmondson, L. Laird, L. Waterfield, B. Williams, C. Whiteley, J. Power, C. Dunesby-Bent, D. Walster. Subs: S. Bungay, D. Thelen, G. Ashby, K. Skoczen, S. Lewis.