Malvern come from two behind to earn a point against Bristol Manor Farm in an excellent game at the NL Services Stadium.
Farm started brightly in a game of early chances. Aron Robbins fired a dipping half volley towards goal in the opening minute that dropped just wide. Malvern were in good form though and had an early chance of their own. Quick feet from Sam Clarke saw him find his namesake Harry, who forced a low save by Seth Locke. Farm would take the lead with the first real quality move of the match. George Dowling turned his man in midfield and sent a lovely pass to Evander Grubb who showed his composure to slot the ball into the far corner. If the first was down to quality, the second was pure calamity. Dowling sent a free kick goal bound and what looked a simple claim for Smallwood was anything but as he dropped the ball under no pressure at all and despite desperate claws at the ball as it crossed the line, the goal was given and Farm had two. Malvern were still battling away and had far more of the ball as the half continued. Watts causes a flying save from Locke before Malvern did get a goal back on the half hour. Watts got in down the left and his ball made its way across the area and Spurrier dropped inside and hammered the ball into the far corner. Locke was on hand again to ensure Farm kept their lead at the break, flicking a Sam Clark headed over his crossbar.
Malvern had big chances early in the second half as they set the tone for a largely dominant 45 minutes. Watts did brilliantly to flick the ball beyond Harry Lucas and he opted to pass to the off-balance Joe Tumelty but the former Farm man could only shoot wide. Malvern and Tumelty then had another huge chance before the hour but he flashed a half volley over from close range. The visitors then introduced former Bristol Rovers and Plymouth striker Ryan Brunt and he almost made an immediate impact. Another stunning save from Locke forced a corner and the big strikers first touch saw him head the delivery narrowly wide. Even when Locke was beaten his defence stood firm. Watts flicked effort beat the Farm keeper but Robbins was there to clear off the line. Farm were carrying occasional threat on the counter and almost sealed the win in the 70th minute. Abu Sama brought down a Dowling pass superbly before sliding to Grubb, his effort was blocked before Dowling sliced his first time effort just past the post. Farm were holding firm, but Malvern were 14 games unbeaten for a reason and drew level late on as their pressure told. A scramble in the area caused havoc but nobody was quite sure why the whistle was blown until the referee pointed to the spot. Watts stepped up to send Locke the wrong way and both sides settled for a share of the spoils.