County cup football: Malvern Town 1 Alvechurch 3

The visitors won a free-kick right on the edge of the area in just the fifth minute as Dan Sweeney was pulled back by Carrick Hill and the same player put the resulting free-kick inches wide.

A clearance from the hosts' Joe Davies almost caught the keeper out as the ball sailed just over and then some neat build-up play ended with Joe Bullock dragging his effort just wide.

There were a couple of routine saves for Josh Bishop with Malvern yet to test the visiting keeper as the opening period went on.

On 22 minutes, Jack Watts was picked out and, as he cut inside, his low strike was well saved.

After Bishop was alert to head clear as Sweeney chased a through-ball, there were appeals for a penalty at the other end as Jordan Annear went down.

As half-time approached, both teams were cancelling each other out as it remained goalless.

The first action of the second period saw Annear put a rasping effort into the side-netting.

Shortly afterwards, Josh Dugmore’s curling effort was well saved by Bishop as Malvern managed to scramble clear the corner that followed.

Just past the hour mark, Alex Bell saw an effort well saved and then from the resulting corner somehow the ball was kept out on the line.

But Malvern opened the scoring when a free-kick was delivered onto the head of Davies who made no mistake as he guided the ball home.

However, two goals in quick succession saw the visitors turn the scoreline on its head.

Firstly Sweeney was alert to turn a rebound off the crossbar from Ethan McLeod home and then he notched another at the second attempt having taken the ball around the keeper.

It was a quick-fire hat-trick for Sweeney as he broke the offside trap from a long clearance before tucking home in front of 162 fans at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium.

Mid-table Malvern welcome eighth-placed Bristol Manor Farm in Southern League Division One South on Saturday (3pm).