Spa returned to winning ways in the first Worcestershire derby of the season, and first ever Wychavon derby, registering a 2 goal win over Pershore Town in scorching conditions at the Community Stadium.
Droitwich looked lively despite playing a 3rd game in six days and started positively with an early Josh Hurdman effort testing Cunneen.
The Plums then enjoyed a strong spell as a Archie Thurston effort narrowly missed the far post and Raheem Spencer was denied by Dom Rogerson in the Spa goal. Thirty seconds later Josh Hurdman almost rounded Cunneen only for the Town keeper to stick out a hand to gather the ball.
On 23 minutes Alex Dugmore was felled in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. In a bizarre twist, the linesman then called the referee over. The penalty decision was reversed and the game still waited for the arrival of the first goal.
That proved to be the turning point as The Saltmen took the game by the scruff of the neck as first Hurdman fired over, then Dugmore’s shot on the turned was turned around the near post by Cunneen.
Spa managed to capitalize on their late first half pressure when excellent work from Perry Moss and a chipped cross found the head of Charlie Tilley to head into goal from close range for his 3rd of the season on 40 minutes, and Josh Hurdman then pounced on a loose ball in the area to volley home moments before half time. Inbetween the goals, both Tilley and Moss struck efforts over the bar.
Yuri Quintas registered the first chance of the 2nd half for Town, but his header was off target, however Droitwich soon got on the front foot as strong play from Dugmore was let down by a strong cross which would have given Moss a tap-in at the far post.
Josh Hurdman almost got lucky after hounding down Cunneen’s clearance which ricocheted off him and wide, then the Spa winger produced a fine solo effort that he saw come back off the woodwork.
Cunneen denied Spa a 3rd of the game with an unbelievable one-handed save from close range to frustrate Hurdman, and he was there again to save from substitute Nathan Binner.
The Plums came closest to reducing the arrears when Jack Neal & Lucas Colley got into good positions but produced some wayward finishing and Droitwich comfortably held on to claim a deserved 3 points.