Droitwich Spa continued their rich vein of form as they hit six goals past Chipping Sodbury Town on Saturday at The Ridings.

Spa started strongly and leading scorer Alex Dugmore saw his effort deflected wide as early as the 2nd minute, however on 6 minutes Josh Hurdman broke the deadlock as he latched onto Dugmore's flicked header and finished well into the bottom corner from a tight angle.
Home 'keeper Teddy Maggs then denied an almost carbon copy move with a good save with his legs before the ball was cleared to safety.

It didn't take long for the Saltmen, and Hurdman, to double the advantage as a poor back pass from Josh Law sold Maggs short, Hurdman charged down the clearance to pick up the pieces and tap home into an empty net.

Spa were excellent going forward, particularly in the first half; Ben Tilbury had two excellent chances to add to the lead but a weak finish allowed Maggs a comfortable save when through on goal, whilst a powerful Dugmore header went over the bar.

The hosts should have pulled a goal back when Callum Ball found himself in acres of space at the far post but his air shot ended up well off target in a let off for Droitwich.

The visitors kept pushing for another goal and it duly came when determined chasing down from Dugmore pressured Town to lose possession deep in their own half, Hurdman broke away down the right and looped in a perfect ball for Ben Tilbury to head home on 31 minutes, with Maggs scrambling across his area.

Chipping Sodbury started to lose their cool as the half wore on and a late challenge from Keane Ashwood, who had already been booked, was lucky to get away with just a warning.

Spa had another couple of chances before the break for Tilbury and Sam Carey, but went into half time with a deserved 3-goal advantage.

It was the visitors who started the better of the two sides in the second half as well; both Nathan Binner and Dugmore saw 20-yard efforts flash wide, but Dugmore made it four on 56 minutes when he met a cross from the right at the near post to volley into the top corner, and just four minutes later the frontman grabbed a brace when he strode clear of the home defence to finish clinically.

The scoring wasn't finished there; Ben Tilbury was fouled in the area and Josh Hurdman dispatched the penalty to notch his hat-trick for the day and his second of the season, to give Spa an unassailable lead.

Town went in search of a consolation goal in the closing stages and Owen Bell came close with an effort from range, before an unstoppable free kick from Captain Liam Towler did eventually pull one back with minutes remaining.

Spa substitute Joe Hurdman almost notched a 7th Droitwich goal from the next move but his header went just wide.

A very good performance from Andy Crowther's side that out-classed Chipping Sodbury, that are traditionally strong at home.
With Spa's closest title challengers dropping points, The Saltmen's game at Wellington on Tuesday evening (ko 7.45pm) could see them take a big step towards being crowned League champions and claiming a first ever promotion to Step 5.