MALVERN Town go into Saturday's crucial clash at Tividale (3pm) on the back of a 5-1 home thrashing of Bilston Town Community.

Les Jones' second-placed side head to their West Midlands League Premier Division rivals in third before entertaining Wellington Amateurs next Wednesday.

Malvern produced a strong opening 30 minutes against Bilston and this time got the goals their play warranted.

Keeper Vitor Pinheiro saved from Sam Rathbone after just three minutes with the chance created when Josh Hunt laid off Kyonn Evans' pass.

Three minutes later, Evans played the ball in again to Hunt and he fired home.

It was 2-0 in the 11th minute when a Louis Loader free-kick towards the back post was headed in by Shaun Smith.

Malvern keeper Charlie Weaver denied Sufyan Zia at the other end but the hosts scored their third goal on 16 minutes.

The ball was played out of Malvern’s goal upfield to Smith and onto Evans who passed it for Matt Turner to fire home.

Ten minutes later, Turner made it 4-0 as Rathbone played the ball into him and he chested it down before hitting a half-volley low into the corner.

A Bilston corner one minute before half-time was punched away but fell for captain Todd Perry to score.

Malvern went close to a fifth goal late in the half when Turner beat Pinheiro to Rathbone's chip and lobbed the ball over his head but a defender cleared it off the line.

Rathbone continued to create problems with a dangerous low cross and then he cut in from Lewis Platt's pass to demand a save from Pinheiro.

Turner went close to converting Evans' centre soon after.

Bilston threatened 10 minutes from time when Jason Hewitt shot just over

Two minutes later, Malvern's new signing from Westfields, Carlos Moreira, who came on as a substitute earlier, ran into the box and was brought down resulting in a penalty which Evans duly scored.

Pinheiro prevented further goals late on, pushing over Loader's cross-shot and saving from Evans.

Malvern's under 21s are at home to Holme Lacy in the Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division on Saturday (2pm).