MALVERN Town were made to fight hard for a 4-3 home win over lowly Cradley Town in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

A slippery HDanywhere Community Stadium pitch passed an inspection and Les Jones' sixth-placed side powered into a 4-1 lead.

In the fourth minute, Cradley keeper George Rogers fluffed a goal-kick and Lee Hooper chipped the ball back but just wide.

Malvern went ahead on seven minutes when Ben Hayes latched onto Dene Whittal-Williams' header and moved forward before crossing for Sam Rathbone to nod in at the back post.

But Cradley equalised in the 14th minute when slick one-touch football between Sam Wilkinson and Ryan Edwards ended with the latter slotting home.

Four minutes later, Hooper was denied a goal after turning in Dan Herbert's deflected cross, which had initially drifted out of play.

The same player saw his shot saved after Herbert dummied Hayes' cross.

But Malvern struck on the half hour when Herbert headed in Hooper's cross.

The hosts made it 3-1 on 35 minutes when Whittal-Williams nodded in Rathbone's corner.

Kirk Layton nearly added to the tally after the break with a volley which travelled just high and wide.

But Malvern increased their lead on 49 minutes when keeper Rogers dropped a cross for Hayes to fire the ball into the empty net.

However, Cradley did not give in and Matthew Poyner smashed the angle between post and bar from 25 yards seven minutes later.

On the hour mark, Adam Meacham reduced the lead to 4-2 and the same player then hit the angle for the visitors again from a free-kick.

But Meacham fired in his second on 72 minutes following a fine move to create a tense finale for Malvern.

Layton nearly made the game safe when his header from Hayes' cross hit the bar.

Chris Whittaker missed Cradley's best chance to level four minutes from time when he nodded over from a free-kick.

Division One leaders Bromyard Town were held to a 2-2 home draw by mid-table Wem Town.

They host Wrens Nest at Delahay Meadow on Saturday (3pm).

Third-placed Malvern Town under 21s won 3-0 at Darlaston Town in Division Two and visit Gornal Colts on Saturday (2pm).