1st Team
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Sat 06 Apr 2024  ·  Division 1
Droitwich Spa Football Club
1st Team
J Hurdman (1')
1
3
Coton Green
Droitwich Spa 1-3 Coton Green

Droitwich Spa 1-3 Coton Green

DSFC Admin9 Apr - 08:21
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Spa slip up at home

After two positive results, Andy Crowther's side had the wind taken out of their sails as Coton Green came away from Kingy's with all three points.
Droitwich's traditional bogey side away from home have now won on both their visits to Kingy's since renovation, and conversely Spa have won on each of the last four visits to New Mill Lane!

The Saltmen started the game brilliantly, as some fine control and a low finish on the turn by Josh Hurdman gave the hosts an early lead with just 20 seconds on the clock.
It looked like it could be a high scoring encounter at this early stage, and Droitwich continued a bright start when Molloy fired over from the edge of the area before Lemon should have made it 2-0 from just yards out as he slid in and connected with Hudman's low cross only to see the ball finish up the wrong side of the post.

Veteran Matt Gardner then registered the visitors' first opportunity but Sayer saved well, and at the other end Hurdman found himself through with just Josh Benton to beat, but the visiting stopper saved well to keep the score at 1-0.

Coton went straight up the other end and equalised, when Jay Henry cut inside and hit an unstoppable strike into the roof of the Droitwich net on 17 minutes.

The wind played a big part in this encounter and both sides struggled to deal with the conditions, however it was the Tamworth side who best adapted.
Along with numerous breaks in play after some heavy challenges on Alex Dugmore, Matt Jackson and James Lemon, the latter having to be replaced on the half hour mark, the game petered out into a midfield battle.
The only chances fell to Droitwich before the break who lacked creativity after the replacement of their Captain, but Josh Benton was in fine form to deny Hurdman and Charlie Tilley.

The second half was even more of a non-event; neither side created any meaningful chances; both Charlie Tilley and Archie Woodall fired wide of the mark in the opening stages before Coton took the lead on 68 minutes.

A free kick awarded on the touchline 30-yards out was delivered by Louie O'Connor, and with the gust of wind sailed over everyone and into the goal.

Just two minutes later Green extended their lead as Droitwich lost possession, and being caught out of shape Henry's cross to the back post was bread and butter for Gardner who had the simple task of heading into an empty net passed a helpless Sayer.

Coton managed the rest of the game well, and their only other chance fell to Henry who should have made it 1-4 only for a last ditch Joe Clayton clearance who has been a revelation since stepping up from the Under-21 side, denied him a 2nd of the afternoon.

Droitwich struggled on as Hurdman and Braiden-Smith both missed the target in promising positions before Edmonds' goal was questionably disallowed on 89 minutes, and Benton's last action in stoppage time was to pull off a fine save to deny Tilley from reducing the arrears.

With the result the Saltmen drop a position to 4th in the table, however, with Hinckley winning the League title on Saturday, the best Droitwich can hope for is a 2nd place finish which is still achievable if Andy Crowther's men win their games in hand.

Match details

Match date

Sat 06 Apr 2024

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

176

Competition

Division 1

League position

4
Droitwich Spa
15
Coton Green
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club Sponsor - Lee Russell Funeral Director