JACK Watts' double fired Malvern Town to a second consecutive league win as they returned to action with a comfortable victory against relegation-threatened Exmouth Town in the Southern League Division One South.

The striker's penalty in the 67th-minute - his 11th goal of the league campaign - gave The Hillsiders a crucial 2-0 lead before he swept home his 12th of the season with eight minutes to play.

Malvern hadn't played for three weeks due to postponements and after taking some time to settle into the game, Matt McDonald gave them the lead shortly before the break with a curled free-kick into the bottom corner. 

The hosts had their chances throughout to make the game more comfortable but Exmouth dug in and did have their moments, but in the end, it was a deserved victory for Malvern that keeps them safely in mid-table after stretching their unbeaten run to three matches.

"It was a very pleasing result, our third clean sheet in a row which is something we are working hard on in training," said co-manager Lee Hooper.

"We always know we are capable of scoring goals but the work we are putting in defensively in training and all the lads are buying into what we are doing in that aspect of the game and that's the really pleasing thing.

"Being a hard team to beat is what we are trying to do, we know we are an attacking team but recently we've really bought into that defensive work so we are all really pleased."

Malvern are back in action on Saturday when they make the trip to play-off chasing Frome Town as they look to maintain their recent good form.

"We are taking each game as it comes, we have to. We need to keep working hard and try and keep that form going on our travels," added Hooper.

"We are enjoying our football at the moment and we are comfortable in mid-table and pulling away from the bottom section of the league.

"It's now up to us as to which direction we now go in. If we are dedicated and the lads put the work in, who knows what we could achieve."