The Saltmen earned an important 3 points at Beeches View on Saturday. Going in to the encounter, the sides were separated by one place and only goal difference, with Spa in 5th and Cradley in 6th.

The hosts dominated the opening stages of the game with the lively Umaru Saho causing no end of problems down the left flank. Ollie Sayer was alert to parry away a dangerous set piece in an early flurry of corners for the Hammers.
Town also had the ball in the back of the net only for the assistant referee's flag to deny them for an offside.

The Saltmen struggled to get out of their own half, but on their first attack of any danger, where James Lemon raced clear of the defence, Cradley 'keeper Frimpong came racing out of his box, but the Spa Captain got to the ball first and was fouled. The match official awarded Frimpong a yellow card.

Just two minutes later however, Nathan Binner's deep cross found Cory Rudd whose powerful header beat Frimpong and nestled into the bottom corner to give Droitwich the lead, somewhat against the run of play.

Cradley were soon back on the front foot, and equalised on 23 minutes when a corner from the left ricocheted off the unfortunate Alex Dugmore and in to the back of a helpless Sayer's net.

Cradley's next best chance fell to Oli Jones who had an exchange with Saho, cut inside but could only find the side-netting when trying to beat Sayer at the near post.

The game was turned on its head once again when Charlie Tilley broke in to the area and was brought down by Whitley.
Connor Collins stepped up to convert the resulting penalty on 34 minutes.

The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Cradley and the Salmen reacted well, however Sayer produced a good save low down to deny Harrold.

Opposite number Frimpong then produced an even better stop to deny Lemon with a strong one-handed parry from close range.

Droitwich further threatened through another Cory Rudd header, Collins and Binner, twice, and he was twice denied by some great last ditch blocks from the home defence before the break.

The Saltmen continued where they left off in the second period and managed the game well. The first chance fell to Lemon who couldn't quite get on the end of Collins's low cross.

But on the hour mark the Droitwich Captain made amends as he received Collins's flick on, rounded Frimpong and tapped home into an empty net.

Lemon came close again with a fearsome 25-yard volley which narrowly missed the target.

The hosts always possessed a threat going forward but Andy Crowthers' men managed the second half brilliantly in a well organised performance.

Cradley got the score back to 2-3 when Saho beat the offside trap and finish clinically into the bottom corner with just 3 minutes of normal time remaining, but Droitwich returned to Worcestershire with an important 3 points to make it 5 games unbeaten as the Saltmen hope to be hitting some form at just the right time.

There is no rest for Spa as on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm) 2nd placed Allscott Heath visit Kingy's in another crunch game at the top end of the table.