Uhlsport Hellenic League

Division One West

Lydney Town 2

Malmesbury Victoria 0

LYDNEY never quite hit top form against a Malmesbury side struggling near the foot of the table.

The game was often scrappy, but Lydney still never looked like losing.

With striker Niall Halford returning, Steve Jones went back in goal.

Halford started on the bench alongside Jared Liddington.

It was Adam Price who first threatened the visitors' goal when he ran through and chipped the keeper from the edge of the box, only to see his effort clip the bar.

Malmesbury had to wait until the 20th minute for their first effort on goal, but Jones saved it comfortably.

With the Lydney strikers not firing, defender Sam Elliott showed them the way.

Jonny Kear knocked a great ball into the box on the half-hour mark and Elliott powered a header past Dempsey to claim his first goal of the season.

Town put in plenty of effort but their usual neat passing game deserted them.

Steve Jones was called upon to make a fine stop two minutes after the restart.

Wilkins hammered a powerful shot at goal but Jones was alert to the danger.

Danny Clarke fired a constant stream of crosses into the Malmesbury box from the left flank, but no one was able to finish them off.

Lydney eventually scored a second goal on 62 minutes.

Ricky Elliott crossed from the right and Dempsey dropped the ball under pressure from Sam Elliott.

Timmins saw his effort blocked, but the ball fell invitingly for Adam Price to drill into the bottom corner.

Lydney enjoyed their best spell of the game after netting their second goal.

Halford replaced Timmins on 70 minutes and the tall striker went close on a couple of occasions. He just failed to connect with two good crosses from Dan Gittings at the far post.

Liddington replaced Price on 75 minutes and got involved immediately.

Jonny Kear had a cheeky back heel saved on the line and Halford flashed a header over the bar.

At the other end Jones made a superb one-handed save from Wilkins.

In the 85th minute, Liddington raced into the Malmesbury box, but slid his effort wide of the far post.

The work rate of Lydney man James Morse was a key feature of the day.

The tough tackling midfielder gave an honest display that was full of energy and hard graft. It certainly impressed manager Neil Hook, who named him man of the match.