MALVERN Town kept up their challenge at the top of the West Midlands League Premier Division with a 4-2 home win over Shifnal Town.

Dan Elwell fired Shifnal ahead but Malvern levelled in the second half and went 3-1 up quickly through Dene Whittal-Williams, Sam Rathbone and Josh Hunt.

Craig Love put the visitors back into it only for Lewis Platt to secure the win for the hosts at the HDanywhere Community Stadium.

Malvern had not played since February 24 and the lack of a match for a month showed in the first half which together with the loss of Kyonn Evans and Phil Harris resulted in a lacklustre display.

Shifnal keeper Tom Whittaker made a double save from Hunt and Lewis Platt on 26 minutes.

But two minutes later the visitors hit back with Elwell chipping the ball over keeper Charlie Weaver into the far top corner of the net.

Turner had two bites of the cherry on 39 minutes but his first shot was parried by Whittaker into the air and the follow-up header hit the post.

Three minutes into the second half, Town replaced the injured Shaun Smith with Rathbone.

Hunt's curling effort went just wide but Malvern levelled on 57 minutes when Whittal-Williams powerfully headed in Louis Loader's free-kick into the box.

Malvern took just six more minutes to take the lead for the first time when Turner crossed for Rathbone to volley home.

Turner went close to adding a third with a solo effort after picking the ball up by the halfway line before flicking the ball forward and firing over.

Keeper Weaver kept Malvern's lead intact with a fine one-handed save low down.

But Malvern quickly capitalised on 71 minutes by making it 3-1 when Hunt ran into the area to fire home.

Whittaker saved with his foot to deny Turner before Shifnal got back into the match six minutes from time through captain Love on the rebound following a Weaver save.

Weaver twice denied Shifnal an equaliser and Platt ran half the length of the pitch from Rathbone's pass to make the game safe for Malvern four minutes into injury-time.

Malvern visit Wolverhampton Casuals on Saturday (3pm) and then Wellington on Tuesday (7.45pm) in the league.

The under 21s host Holme Lacey on Saturday (2.30pm) and then on Tuesday travel to play the Herefordshire FA Charity Bowl final against Ledbury Town at Westfields (7.30pm).