GOAL-hungry Malvern Town gained a nap hand with a 5-0 thrashing of West Midlands League Premier Division hosts Shifnal Town.

Young players Ben Hayes and Sam Rathbone bagged two each as sixth-placed Town scored five goals or more for the fifth time in seven games in all competitions.

Malvern's other victims have been Wellington Amateurs (6-1), Black Country Rangers (7-0) and Wednesfield (12-0) as well as Littleton (5-1) in the Worcester Royal Infirmary Cup.

For the Shifnal trip, Malvern were without defenders Dene Whittal-Williams and Aaron Richards, while Lee Hooper had a fitness test before the game in Shropshire.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men two minutes before half-time after an incident involving the visitors' Dave Reynolds and Barry Evans.

Malvern went ahead in the seventh minute when a right-wing free-kick was crossed to Rathbone at the back post and he tucked the ball into the corner of the net.

Midfielder Kirk Layton's 23rd-minute effort from Hayes' pass hit a defender and went into the net but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Three minutes later, Hooper found Reynolds and his shot was cleared for a corner.

Malvern took a short corner and Hooper eventually crossed for Hayes to slot home.

Soon after, Reynolds centred for Hooper and his effort was pushed wide by keeper Luke Kriskinans.

Both teams lost a player to red cards before half-time after Evans tackled Layton from behind and Reynolds got involved.

There was still time for Malvern to make it 3-0 in injury-time when Rathbone scored at the second attempt from Hayes' pass.

The HDanywhere Community Stadium side added two more goals in the second period.

But they missed a fine chance on 63 minutes when substitute Matt Turner miskicked in front of goal after more good work from Hayes.

Two minutes later, Rathbone raced down the left and crossed for Hayes to slot home his second.

Malvern gave up several chances before substitute Jack Cullity rounded Shifnal's own replacement keeper and fired home in the 79th minute.

Turner's late effort from a Jake Hollylee assist was deflected over.

Malvern's Worcester Royal Infirmary Cup semi-final second leg at Littleton tonight has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Town host mid-table Dudley Sports on Saturday (3pm).

The ninth-placed under 21s lost 3-2 at home to Wolverhampton United in Division Two and visit Stafford on Saturday (3pm).

Title-chasing Powick Rangers hope to return to action at Newport Town (2pm).

Meanwhile, Bromyard Town won a thriller 5-4 at Bustleholme in Division One and remain eight points ahead of St Martins at the top.

Newent Town fell 4-0 at Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division One title-chasers Broadwell Amateurs. They host Cam Bulldogs on Saturday.