MALVERN Vale Firsts defeated Cheltenham League Division Four title favourites Prestbury Rovers Reserves 2-1 in their second game in three days.

Prestbury welcomed a changed Vale side with Luke Henney starting in Malvern’s back four and Connor Thomasson and Declan Andrews making their first starts for the club.

A determined Vale were looking to bounce back after their emphatic loss to Malvern Vale Academy the previous Thursday where they lost 6-0.

Throughout the first half the visitors looked the better side, they were comfortable on the ball and when they settled into the game were playing some positive flowing football.

Joe Turner and Ashley Dallow went close several times with the help of good attacking play by Miguel Passaro and Bradley Hughes.

Prestbury shook the Vale defence when a long ball over the top was met by their striker who fired it into the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside.

40 minutes into the match a late tackle on Henney meant Vale were forced into the first substitution of the game.

It was all to play for in the second half after a goalless first 45 minutes.

Vale came out with a promising attitude, particularly Declan Andrews who was growing more into the game.

The deadlock was broken by Dallow who got onto the end of a cross by Passaro to fire home at close range.

The celebrations didn’t last long for Vale, who weren’t clinical when they had a number of good chances to double their lead.

Prestbury managed to break down the play of Vale and slotted home an equaliser.

With the game at 1-1 with 10 minutes remaining, Prestbury were unlucky not to have secured the winner when Stephen Newman saved a great shot on the line.

The winner for Vale came in the dying minutes of the game when Passaro linked up well with Dallow once again and met his cross to fire home.

The game ended 2-1 in Vale’s favour with Andrews getting the nod for man of the match.

Vale face Welland Reserves in the play-offs on Saturday, April 28.

They are looking for a season and kit sponsor as well as trialists for 2018-19. Anyone interested can email Steve@mvfc.co.uk or lukehhenney@gmail.com.