LEADERS Wimborne Town left it late to emerge victorious against 10-man Malvern Town.

Wimborne, who remain four points clear atop Southern League Division One South, had a man advantage from as early as the ninth minute after Joe Bullock was dismissed.

After a goalless first half, Jack Lovell and Jordan Annear traded goals, before Harry Baker’s late strike earned Wimborne a 2-1 victory.

Tim Sills kept the same starting XI which beat Tavistock the previous weekend.

The big early flashpoint saw Malvern lose a man, Bullock sent off having been deemed the last man as he brought down Jack Lovell.

The hosts organised themselves well, making it difficult for Wimborne to find a breakthrough.

Lovell saw a header go wide, before Billy Walker’s strike was ruled out for offside.

Both sides then saw penalty appeals waved away, including Cameron Munn being felled in the area, as the half ended level.

Magpies continued to control possession after the restart and began getting more shots off, through Harry Morgan and substitute Baker.

The deadlock was broken on 63 minutes. Oakley Hanger spread the play across to Baker, who cut it back for Lovell to fire in.

But back came Malvern, quickly levelling. After Wimborne lost possession, the hosts pounced through Jack Watts. Goalkeeper Ross Flitney saved his effort, but Annear was there to turn in the rebound.

Wimborne got back on the attack, getting plenty of crosses into the box, but the Hillsiders held firm.

That was until the dying embers, when Baker struck, beating keeper Joshua Bishop from a tight angle, his shot striking the far post and nestling into the net.

Wimborne host Evesham United on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Magpies: Flitney, Hanger, Walker, Jackson, Scorey (Cocklin, 61), Griffin, Neale, Morgan, Munn (Baker, 54), Beale (Hoey, 80), Lovell.

Unused subs: Arnold, Carmichael.