IT was not to be for Malvern Town Women in their highly anticipated WFA County Cup semi-final with rivals Worcester City Women Development, who won 4-0 at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium. 

The visitors, who play a level above Malvern, were always favourites but after the season Malvern have had, belief was there that they could spring an upset.

But it was not to be in the end as they were well beaten 4-0 to set-up an all-Worcester City final at the end of April. 

Goals from Lauren Smith (2) and Tinny Conway had City 3-0 up at the break before a second-half goal from Alice Finley completed the comfortable victory in the end. 

Town struggled to get going in the first half, while City settled into their stride from the first whistle and scored within the opening five minutes when Smith looped a header over Cropper, who had made an initial good save.

In patches, Town did play some decent football, but not to their normal standard and anything created was efficiently dealt with by the higher-level away side.

Malvern were being forced back and City doubled their lead in the 25th minute when another decent save from Cropper found the feet of Conway to bundle home.

Two then quickly became three as Smith's strike from range flew over Cropper in the Malvern goal.

The second half saw a triple change for Town with Brooke Taylor, Jade Smith and Grace Harker entering the game, resulting in a more competitive Town as they started to push City back.

But for all their efforts, they just could not quite create a clear-cut chance, relying on free kicks and corners.

Even Emma Goodband’s introduction did little to improve the situation, despite some decent flick-ons and hold up play from Goodband, City were equal to everything Town threw at them and added a fourth from the penalty spot 15 minutes from time via Finley's conversion.

They will now place Worcester City first team in the County Cup Final, after they beat Bewdley Town Ladies 7-1 at Sixways.