IT WAS a tough afternoon for Cornwall’s Southern League sides on Saturday as Falmouth Town and Mousehole were both beaten on home soil.

Fal – who had suffered late heartbreak at Brixham in midweek where they conceded a 93rd minute equaliser having taken an early lead through Luke Barner, welcomed Worcestershire outfit Malvern Town to Bickland Park looking to climb further away from the bottom four.

Such is the tight nature of the division –following Saturday’s results, just seven points separate basement side Brixham who are starting to pick up some results, and Didcot Town who are 12th in the 22-team division.

Malvern arrived in Cornwall looking to close the gap on the play-off places and won it on 65 minutes as a corner was flicked on to Luke Salter who beat Morgan Coxhead.

Falmouth huffed and puffed for an equaliser but couldn’t find a way through as they remain on 14 points from as many games.

They are next in action on Saturday when they make the long trip to play-off chasing Winchester City.

Mousehole were hoping to be up and around the top five yet again, however the Seagulls stay 15th, level with Falmouth following a 3-1 home defeat to Winchester City, a result which leaves them already 13 points behind the play-off places.

The Cornishmen actually got off to a fine start as striker Liam Prynn gave them a ninth minute lead, however their advantage was short-lived as striker Daniel Bradshaw levelled on 17 minutes.

It stayed at 1-1 until just after the hour, but two goals in two minutes from Thomas Bragg and Thomas Wright on 65 and 67 minutes respectively, meant Mousehole slipped to a seventh defeat of the season.

Jake Ash’s side head to Swindon Supermarine on Saturday (3pm).