MALVERN Vale bounced back from their first Cheltenham League Division Three draw of the season with a 6-2 home beating of in-form Cheltenham Civil Service Thirds.

Vale, buoyed by the return of Jordan Richards, Ash Griffiths and Mig Passaro, started slowly with a boggy pitch hampering their passing game.

A loose Richards pass fell to Aaron Walker after 15 minutes and the Civil Service striker put the away side ahead.

Sluggish Vale were restricted to shots from distance for much of the first half but on 35 minutes Griffiths' free-kick deflected off the wall and Matt Strangwood turned to slot past keeper Richard Francis.

However, a long ball over the top found Walker and Lewis Hough powered home his cross from just inside the box to quickly restore the visitors' lead.

Vale had not been behind before at half-time this season but a more direct style quickly paid off four minutes into the second period.

Andre Rodrigues' ball over the top saw Strangwood break the offside trap to equalise.

Vale took over and with 23 minutes left went ahead for the first time when Mario Vieira found Passaro who rolled his shot into the bottom corner.

Strangwood's deflected free-kick secured his hat-trick and Civil Service struggled, going down to 10 men twice due to sin-bin visits for dissent.

A long ball from keeper Marcin Celmer set Passaro clear to fire home the fifth goal with seven minutes left.

In the dying minutes Vale rounded off their victory when Vieira's free-kick deflected in off defender Hough.

Leaders Malvern host their last home game of 2018 on Saturday against Dowty Dynamos Reserves.

Malvern Cave beat Malvern Vale Reserves 3-1 in a Division Four derby to complete a quick double after winning 4-1 last month.

Toby Boswell and David Jones were among the Cave scorers with Kieran Kinsella replying.

Welland Reserves progressed in the Senior Charity Cup 5-4 on penalties after drawing 1-1 at home to Woodmancote United with Ed Lyons scoring.

Second-placed Upton Town kept up the pressure at the top of Division One by beating Tewkesbury Town 7-4.

Zaqib Hussain bagged five goals with Simon Craddock and Dylan Hart also on target.