Hartpury FC entered 2026 suffering a 4-1 defeat to Malvern Town at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium on Saturday.
Billy Osborn’s equaliser turned into a consolation goal with the Hillsiders confidently securing all three points in the Southern League Div One South clash.
It only took Malvern six minutes to break the deadlock through a Reece King headed effort from a corner.
It was all Malvern in the opening exchanges with Piers Walton seeing a close ranged effort stopped by Seth Locke on 12 minutes, before a Joe Bullock driven effort was well held by the Acorns goalkeeper, moments later.
The Acorns levelled the game when Osborn picked out the far corner with a deflected effort on 18 minutes, after Jesse Aldridge picked him out in the area.
But straight down the other end, Malvern retook the lead courtesy of an own goal.
Locke was called into action again on 28 minutes, when he smothered a Levi Francis volleyed effort at close range.
Malvern had a third on the half hour mark when Bullock found the bottom corner from just inside the area.
Bullock almost had a second on 44 minutes, but his headed effort looped just over the bar, seeing the Acorns with work to do in the second half.
HALF TIME- MALVERN TOWN 3-1 HARTPURY FC
Malvern went close to grabbing a fourth on 52 minutes when Sam Clark went through on goal, but Locke was out quick to smother the effort.
Silva tried his luck from a set piece on 68 minutes but could only direct his effort into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Silva came close again on 82 minutes when he poked an effort past the goalkeeper, but it was incredibly hooked off the line by a Malvern body.
But the game was put out of reach on 87 minutes, when Ryan Brunt confidently dispatched from the spot.
The Acorns will look to bounce straight back to winning ways on Tuesday night when we travel to Sporting Club Inkberrow.
FULL TIME- MALVERN TOWN 4-1 HARTPURY FC
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent (Hamilton 46’(Sims 56’)), Robinson (Sanniola 71’), Callow, Machisa, Jenkins, Aldridge (Prifti 46’), Coates, Silva, Osborn © (Shyamapant 77’), Manning
ATTENDENCE: 493
