MALVERN Town sealed a fourth-place finish in the league with a come-from-behind 4-1 victory against Willand Rovers on the final day of the season.
The Hillsiders trailed to Douglas Camilo’s early penalty only for Jack Watts to score a quickfire brace before the break to turn the game on its head at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium.
And further goals from Sam Clark and Matt Macdonald sealed a comfortable win for Malvern who head into the play-offs on an 18-game unbeaten run.
Malvern finished the Southern League Division One South season in fourth place and will play third-placed Bishops Cleeve in the play-off semi-finals.
The other semi-final pits Evesham United against Exmouth Town.
Town knew only a win on the final day of the season would guarantee the club a play-off place.
However, Malvern made the worst possible start as Charlie Johnson kicked through a Willand player when attempting to clear the ball inside his own penalty area with the game just three minutes old.
Camilo coolly scored the resulting spot kick in an early blow to Malvern’s play-off hopes.
However, the Hillsiders equalised five minutes before half time when Watts slid home Harry Clark’s low cross from the right at the back post.
And Malvern completed the turnaround three minutes later as Watts scored from the penalty spot after Joe Bullock drew a foul in the box.
The home side struck again on the stroke of half time when S Clark lashed a shot into the roof of the net to leave the visitors stunned.
And Macdonald made sure of the points on the hour mark when he turned home a corner at the near post in a crowd of bodies.
Malvern travel to Bishops Cleeve on Wednesday, April 30 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Kayte Lane.
