Paget Rangers 2-2 Droitwich Spa

Big games can often turn into cagey affairs; this encounter was anything but- with plenty of chances at both ends and more than enough to keep the neutral entertained.

A win for the visitors would have sealed a place in the top two, whilst the Bears, with several games in hand knew that a win would put their promotion chase back on course after some poor recent results.

Paget started the better of the two sides and their direct approach gave Spa problems with the pace of Carter, Dempster & Smith.

Carter hit a 25 yard effort which came back off the post early on, as Droitwich struggled to find their feet on the 3G surface.

Seabourne came close for Spa and then forced Benton into a couple of hasty clearances after being sold short by McPherson.

However, somewhat against the run of play, the Saltmen took the lead.
As the ball bobbled around the edge of the area, Jack Allerton picked up the pieces and curled a sublime effort which went in off the angle of post and bar.

This forced Paget into life and Oliver made a couple of decent stops before Carter drew the hosts level on half an hour - a low ball into the box from the right was half cleared and the lethal marksman smashed in the loose ball from close range.
Before the break, Carter turned the game on it's head in similar circumstances - Oliver this time saving a cross-shot which spilled in front of Carter who couldn't miss from a few yards out to put Rangers deservedly 2-1 up at half time.

Droitwich came out a different side in the second half and caused the home defence alot more problems in the opening 20 minutes. Bridges and Seabourne came close and Jamie Smith's pin-point set-pieces had the hosts on the back foot.

Spa drew level just before the hour mark. After Bradley's foul on Crowther, Smith's deep cross was headed back across goal and in by Matty Hunt.
Droitwich continued to press and Seabourne's shot on the turn flashed wide whilst Bridges should have done better from the edge of the area.
Droitwich then had 'keeper Matt Oliver to thank for keeping them in the game. The stopper made two outstanding saves from the impressive Jeorge Smith and Danny Carter.

In a bid to take the win, Paget threw on the attacking trio of Bellingham, Fagg and Ikouara, but Spa defended resolutely and Oliver's goal was rarely under threat for the last quarter.
Droitwich may have even had a winner after a quick break but Rangers snuffed out the attack before a shot was forthcoming.

The last talking point of the game was when James Lemon was clearly held back in the area by McPherson after a corner, but the referee allowed the game to continue much to the disapproval of the Droitwich bench and sizeable travelling support.

Summing up, Paget had more than enough chances to win the game, but Spa's second half performance earned them an important point, setting up a huge clash with Alvis Sporting on Saturday at the KGPF, where Mark Owen & Wayne Oliver's men need just 1 more point to seal a place in the top two.