MALVERN Vale Firsts ended hosts Falcons Reserves' unbeaten Cheltenham League Division Three record with a 2-1 away win despite playing for 77 minutes with 10 men.

With top scorer Ash Griffiths, Lewis Williams, skipper Jay Jones, Ash Banner and Mike Buckland injured or absent, manager Devin Ward was named on the bench.

Vale started brightly with Matt Strangwood, Nick Jones and Anthony Cakebread causing problems.

On 12 minutes a high ball was played into the Vale box and keeper Marcin Celmer collected the ball but his outstretched boot connected with the advancing Jem Taylor.

Celmer was sent off and defender Pep Ienzi donned the gloves but could not save the resulting spot-kick.

Five minutes later Vale levelled when a pinpoint Mario Vieira ball picked out Jones who fired home.

On 20 minutes a high tackle saw Edgar Sanha leave the field injured and manager Ward came on as keeper with Ienzi back to centre-half.

Falcons struggled to make the one-man advantage tell with Strangwood and Jones still causing problems.

Ward was called into action just before half-time as he collected at the second attempt after a shot from the edge of the box.

The arrival of Mig Passaro at half-time offered fresh legs to the attack as the Vale team worked hard.

Ethan Lambert, Ienzi, Alen Damadzic and Samson Arishe defended well with Passaro, Strangwood and Vieira going close at the other end.

Midway through the half a Cakebread corner was headed in by Jones to give him a deserved brace after his man-of-the-match display.

Vale slowed the game down with stand-in skipper Andre Rodrigues and Vieira maintaining possession.

They held on despite a couple of late free kicks and now travel to Woodmancote United on Saturday in the Minor Charity Cup second round.