The Old Malvernian First XI took another step towards securing promotion back to the Arthurian League’s Premier Division following a comfortable victory over Old King’s Scholars on Saturday. With no Dinks game in the calendar, the OM’s were able to call on a strong squad despite missing some key players due to long term injuries.
A sun drenched Cobham provided perfect playing conditions for both sides, and it was the home team that started the better against a King’s side which has struggled all season. The central midfield three of Alex Richardson, Will Murtagh and Leon Kirchhoff were controlling the game and the OM’s should have taken the lead after a quarter of an hour. Max Kufner, who caused trouble for the opposition defence all afternoon, beat his man in the inside left channel and squared the ball across the face of goal, where Will Gifford was presented with what seemed a simple tap in. However, somehow the winger lifted the ball onto the crossbar from no more than a yard out, later claiming the ball had taken a vicious bobble. Even then Malvern looked certain to score from the rebound but Murtagh shanked the follow up high and wide on the half volley. Further chances for Ayo Afolabi and Kufner came and went, and King’s Scholars began to grow in confidence, as they threatened to punish the OM’s profligacy in front of goal.
But a back four of Jake Robbins, Josh Hughes, captain Ed Ford and Arthur Vaughan refused to buckle when King’s did press forward, and keeper, Sam Vaughan, was alert to sweep up anything played over the top. A couple of chances were wasted by their centre forward before Robbins saved Malvern with a vital clearance from under his own crossbar with a forward waiting to convert at the far post. Having survived these scares the OM’s began to dominate once more, and deservedly took the lead on the half hour. Richardson read an attempted pass out from the Scholars centre back, intercepted the ball and produced a body swerve Paul Gascoigne circa 1990 would have been proud of to go past the last defender. As the keeper rushed out, the veteran midfielder calmly lifted the ball into the far corner for his fifth goal of the season and wheeled away in celebration, on his own.
Leading 1-0 at the break, Malvern knew the game was there for the taking, and were encouraged by the presence of tactical mastermind and long term injury victim, Tom James, who was sporting some kind of ‘Robocop’ brace on his broken arm. Tom’s support was greatly appreciated by all at the Club, especially the players present, and it won’t surprise many to learn even when not playing TJ still managed to upset one or two of the opposition. The OM’s began the second half with purpose, and doubled their lead when the impressive Leon Kirchhoff broke down the left hand side before laying the ball back to Peter Ford, whose well-struck shot from the edge of the penalty area flicked off a defender and into the bottom corner.
With Chris Elsden now on to provide added pace in wide areas along with the dangerous Afolabi, it became a question of how many Malvern would score rather than if they would win. Elsden scored the third with a powerful run and finish, and minutes later Gifford added a fourth as he atoned for his earlier miss. Ford senior clipped a ball over the top of the defence, and Gifford brought the ball down on his chest before fooling the goalkeeper by shaping to cross and slamming the ball into the net from an acute angle. It could have been more but for some ambitious shooting and a lack of patience in possession towards the end. But these were minor gripes, and even King’s consolation goal three minutes from time from a superb free-kick could not dampen spirits after a fine performance from all involved.
Elsewhere, Bradfield’s draw with Shrewsbury means Malvern lie one point behind them with a game in hand and two fixtures to play. Whatever happens in next week’s game with Haileybury, the promotion race is set for a final day showdown when the Old Malvernians play Old Bradfieldians on May 4th. After resounding 4-1 win, and with their fate back in their own hands, the OM’s must first concentrate on maintaining this monemtum against Haileybury on Saturday.
