Sutton United 1-2 Droitwich Spa

Droitwich Spa completed a hectic spell of 6 games in just 14 days with an excellent 1-2 victory at Sutton United, to extend an unbeaten run to four games.

The Saltmen looked understandably weary, but sheer grit and determination earned them all 3 points in Birmingham on Saturday after a difficult start.

Sutton started brightly and with barely 60 seconds on the clock, Olly Sayer had to be alert to tip Sef Semlali's low drive around the post.

Three more decent chances fell to United in the opening twenty minutes, and two of those for Captain Tom Massey; whilst Sayer saved well on his first attempt, Massey should have found the target with a glorious opportunity from close range, but his effort went wide.
Sutton's best performer on the day Tion Pearce then headed just wide from a pinpoint corner.

Droitwich grew into the game and began to find space in the forward positions, where defender Alex Dugmore was again deployed as a striker.

First, Luke Molloy's free kick from 20-yards just missed the target before James Lemon's close range effort slipped under United 'keeper Small but was cleared off the line. Spa enjoyed some good possession but had just a couple of efforts at goal.

The Saltmen came out of the blocks alot quicker in the second half, and on 47 minutes Perry Moss's dipping effort frome range was acrobatically tipped over by Small.
From the resulting corner, Sutton failed to clear and Lucas Edmonds was on hand to prod home the loose ball from close range to put Spa 0-1 up.
James Lemon then had a decent opportunity when the ball fell kindly to him just outside of the penalty area but his effort was well over the target.

Sayer then denied Leyton Hines with a decent save, but on the hour mark the match official awarded Sutton a penalty for suspected handball, which leading scorer Joe Gildea tucked away to score his 33rd goal of the season in 37 appearances.

Dugmore was a whisker away from restoring the advantage when he beat Small to a through ball but his deft touch went just wide, then for the hosts both Gildea and Kye Billingham-Belle had efforts from range that went just wide.

Droitwich looked to be running out of steam but a couple of inspired changes ultimately gave the Saltmen all three points.

With just four minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Josh Hurdman found himself in space in the hosts' penalty area, took a touch and fired a low drive past Small into the far corner to send the sizeable contingent of Droitwich supporters present barmy.

Another substitute Archie Woodall came close to putting the cherry on the cake when a speculative effort from 40-yards had Small back-pedalling, but went just over.
Spa held on for a huge three points in the last away game of the campaign, which, if they avoid a defeat in excess of 10 goals against Wednesfield this week, secures a play-off place for the second consecutive season.

With a point from the Wednesfield fixture, Droitwich can also secure a minimum 5th placed position, but it looks like Andy Crowther's men would have to settle for an away tie in the play-off semi-finals.