Droitwich Spa 1-1 Nuneaton Griff

Droitwich Spa fought back to claim a point against a very well organised Nuneaton Griff at Kingy's on Saturday, to make it 8 games unbeaten.

Most of the Saltmen XI aligned for the fixture hadn't played a competitive game for 3 weeks, however the first chance fell to Perry Moss in a lively opening when on 9 minutes he fired over from the edge of the box.
Two minutes later, a quickly taken free kick down the left saw Tilley's drilled low cross narrowly evading the onrushing James Lemon, who couldn't connect with a diving header.

The visitors replied shortly after as leading scorer Nathan McGarrity attempted a chip but Chadwick read it to comfortably collect.

On 20 minutes Chadwick was called into action again, this time McGarrity's low cross found Archie Gallagher just yards out; his first time effort was bound for the bottom corner but somehow Chadwick got down to tip his effort around the post.

Droitwich then felt they had a good claim for a penalty as Nathan Binner burst into the box and looked to have been brought down but the match official showed him a yellow card for simulation.

The Heartlanders' 'keeper Dale O'Donnell was then called into action to make his only noteworthy save of the game, as Lemon teed up Luke Molloy whose drive from the edge of the area was palmed wide as the two teams went into the half time interval tied at 0-0.

Spa started the second half well without creating any good chances, but Griff took the lead on 53 minutes as the Droitwich defence seemingly switched off, the ball found its way to Dan Edmonds who burst into the box with just Chadwick to beat, and he made no mistake to roll the ball into the bottom corner.

Edmonds could have doubled the guests' advantage just 3 minutes later but Alex Dugmore was there to scramble the ball off the line.

Droitwich spurned numerous chances from promising positions as Lemon, Binner and Moss were all off target as the Saltmen turned the screw.

The Nuneaton defence was almost unflappable throughout the contest, winning most aerial duals and with a well organised back-line, they caught Spa with the offside trap on numerous occasions, however they switched off from a set piece, and as the ball was flicked on to the back post, Charlie Tilley was there to stab home from 2-yards out with 13 minutes remaining.

From the next attack, Droitwich were indebted to Chadwick again who produced an unbelievable save to deny Edmonds; the Griff forwards' powerful close range drive was acrobatically tipped on to the cross-bar to keep the scores level as the game became open with both sides chasing the winner.
The closest Droitwich came in the closing stages was when Perry Moss sliced his effort over when well positioned, and the two sides had to settle for a point in a well contested game on a difficult surface.

The Saltmen travel to in-form Coventry Copsewood next Saturday 18 November (ko 3pm), but on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm) Andy Crowther's men look set to have their most testing game of the season when they host a flying Worcester City side on a winning streak of 11, and a 100% away record in the Worcestershire Senior Cup.