Mitres lose eight goal thriller

The hosts were behind in the first minute for the second game in succession after Harry Clark’s cross wasn’t dealt with and Joe Bullock rifled in the shot from the edge of the area.

Like the previous match however it didn’t take long for Cleeve to take the lead as Matthew Sysum scored just seven minutes later before Jack Watts earned and converted a penalty in the twentieth minute after being tripped by Malvern ‘keeper Kieron Blackburn.

Watts nearly extended the lead two minutes later bit his shot came out off the far upright and whilst the game was end to end, neither side was able to produce anything else clear cut before the interval.

The visitors would have wanted to get on level terms quickly in the second half but it looked like the match was going away from them when Kieran Alder was tripped by Bullock in the box and Watts again stepped up to convert.

However, the lead was soon halved when James Febery was nudged on the left edge of the area and Matthew Turner stepped up to make it 3-2.

This seemed to be the turning point where Malvern stepped their game up to another level although Watts had a glorious chance to restore the two goal lead and seal his hattrick after rounding Blackburn however his off balance shot ended up going narrowly wide.

From that missed chance, Malvern went up the other end and Clark cutting in from the left placed his shot perfectly into the far corner to draw the visitors level at 3-3.

Whilst Cleeve had some good attacking spells it was Malvern who looked by far the most threatening and eight minutes later Turner powered through after both Sam Gilder and Leroy Odiero failed to clear and Malvern retook the lead.

Malvern sealed the win five minutes from time when Turner shot in from nowhere at the near post to tap in Dave Reynolds’ cross.

Cleeve’s next match is away to Kidlington in the FA Cup on Saturday.