PLAY-OFF-BOUND Malvern Town will bring the curtain down on their Hellenic League regular season with a fixture at a Corsham Town team facing its 10th game in just 21 days.
The Hillsiders make the trip to Wiltshire on Saturday (April 22) ahead of a play-off against the team third or fourth bottom of the Southern League Division One South and West, with a place in the division on offer for the winners.
Town’s second place was confirmed after Cribbs’ victory at Wantage Town last Thursday (April 13) gave the Bristol side the Hellenic League crown following a pulsating title race.
Malvern’s 2-1 success at Mangotsfield United last Saturday was a seventh straight league win and took the Hillsiders to 95 points.
Town took the lead on 33 minutes when a corner picked out Harry Clark, who managed to poke the ball home from close range.
Chances for Dave Reynolds came and went before the break but the visitors were pegged back early in the second half when Ollie Jenkins’ powerful header made it 1-1.
Moments later there was more drama when Hillsiders’ Adam Sauntson had a header cleared off the line.
As the clock ticked down, Malvern regained the lead with a deft header from Joe Bullock, but straight from the restart the ‘Field threatened and keeper Keiron Blackburn was on hand with a brave block to seal the three points.
Saturday’s hosts Corsham will be playing their fourth game in a week with three successive wins pushing them to within seven points of the Hillsiders.
Meanwhile Worcester Raiders secured a fourth-place finish in their successful first season at this level with a 6-1 win at Lydney Town. Goals from Joe Billingham and Isaac Cooper put Karl Gormley’s men in firm control before hat-trick hero Shay Willock notched his first on 25 minutes.
A penalty from Jordan Murphy five minutes before the break effectively ended the contest but there was still time for Willock to make it five just before the half-time whistle.
Willock grabbed the match-ball with his third nine minutes after the break while a late consolation for the home side from Steve Clark failed to take the shine off a winning return for boss Gormley who was hospitalised earlier this month.
Worcester City close a disappointing season when they welcome Stone Old Alleynians to Claines Lane on Saturday.
City suffered a fourth straight defeat in the Midland Football League Premier Division after going down 3-1 to Atherstone Town. Kyonn Evans had levelled for City on the half hour mark.
They are now guaranteed a 17th-place finish standings, safe from any relegation fears.
When Stone entertain City earlier in the season in October, a last-minute equaliser from Dan Okojie salvaged a point for Worcester.