Bartlett sees red as City come out on top in eventful Malvern game

City recovered from conceding a second minute penalty to beat Malvern Town 2-1 in an eventful Southern League Premier South encounter at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park this evening.

With just 90 seconds on the clock hesitation between Ollie Tomlinson and Harrison Minturn saw Malshanskyj go to ground under the slightest contact but it was enough for the referee Mr Lamport to award the visitors a penalty. Tumelty stepped to beat Harvey Wiles-Richards from the spot. City thought they had levelled three minutes later when keeper Kilroy failed to claim under pressure from Donovan Wilson, Harry Parsons steering the loose ball home, but the referee awarded Malvern a free-kick. The rest of the half was largely attack against defence but resolute defending from Malvern alongside further decisions from the officials left City frustrated and trailing at the break.

One element of this frustration was lifted within four minutes of the restart when half-time substitute Matt Bowman leapt highest to power home a header from a Jordan Tillson corner. Having show next to nothing as an attacking force Malvern should have regained the lead on 58 minutes but Tumelty fired a great chance over the bar. Six minutes later Joe Raynes was scythed down just inside the box but this time the referee ignored the penalty appeals. Parsons hitting the post with a left-foot shot seconds later doing little to ease City’s sense of disbelief at the decision. Boldewijn then had a 25-yard free-kick well saved before a great turn by Donovan Wilson saw him slice his shot high and wide. However, with 10 minutes left City finally overcame the obstacles in front of them when another corner found its way to Boldewijn and he steered it into the net from eight yards out. There was still time for the referee to show manager Scott Bartlett a red card – having booked him earlier in the half – and award Malvern an indirect free-kick in the box when Wiles-Richards picked up the ball. This came to nothing though to see City record a fifth successive win under the Twerton Park lights.