MANAGER Les Jones feels Malvern Town have a battle on their hands against Birstall United in the FA Vase second qualifying round on Saturday (3pm).

Malvern will head to Leicestershire in good form having lost just one of their opening 10 games in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

Town’s boss says he knows “very little” about Birstall, who gained promotion to the East Midlands Counties League after winning the Leicestershire Senior League last season.

But Jones is aware they will be difficult to break down at their Meadow Lane base.

“I have got a contact in that area who knows they have got a good defence,” said Jones, who will be without the banned Aaron Richards.

“I noticed their results have picked up recently, so I think it will be a tough game.

“Although they are at the same pyramid level, that league could be tougher than ours and traditionally the more north you go, the tougher the teams get.

“They will make themselves tough to beat and, as we are quite an attacking team, it should make for an exciting game.”

Malvern are third in the league after last weekend's 4-1 win over Dudley Town at the HDanywhere Community Stadium.

Matt Turner's effort was deflected home by a Dudley player with Lewis Platt, Dave Reynolds and Dene Whittal-Williams also on target.