Droitwich Spa put in another excellent performance - this time against Bustleholme at Malvern Town's HD Anywhere Stadium on Tuesday evening to pull themselves 11 points clear at the top of the table.

Bustleholme must be sick of Droitwich, as every meeting so far has gone the way of the Worcestershire side (last season Spa triumphed 10-0 and 3-0, whilst earlier in this campaign Spa won by a score of 7-1 at York Road) and Tuesday's duel also went the way of the form book.

Whilst the nomadic Black Country outfit had to ring the changes for this fixture, Spa went about their business professionally and produced some more slick passing football. The warning signs were evident early on as Ben Tilbury's 20-yard strike cannoned back off the visitors cross-bar.

On 6 minutes Connor Collins opened the scoring with a sublime strike from distance and added a second for him and his side just 5 minutes later, this time making sure that Tilbury's curling effort from the edge of the box crossed the goal-line.

James Lemon added a third with a lovely finish which was just out of visiting 'keeper Jake Richards's grasp.

Barely 20 minutes were played when Alex Dugmore rose highest from a corner to powerfully head home into the roof of the net for his fourth goal of the season and Droitwich's fourth of the evening.
In-between the goals Richards was kept busy by denying James Lemon, Ben Tilbury, Jack Davies, Brad Burgess and Connor Collins from further extending the lead whilst the wood-work also came to his rescue.

For Bustleholme's part they did enjoy some spells of possession which broke down at the crucial moments - their best chance of the game coming to Jake Fairhurst who found himself through on goal, but a poor first touch allowed Matt Oliver to snuff out the danger.

Spa made it 5-0 by the half hour mark - another superb finish from the free-scoring Collins who precisely curled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box to effectively seal the contest.
Droitwich added another before the break and it was Collins again who netted 4-goals in the first half to make it 6-0, taking his own scoring tally to an impressive 27 goals in just 24 games.

Bustleholme must have had a stern talking to at the break and came out of the dressing rooms looking a lot more solid. They were able to repel the Saltmen's advances for the first quarter of the 2nd half, however within 5 minutes of coming on, Haydn Morris netted Droitwich's 7th of he evening thanks to some tidy footwork and finish from the edge of the area.

It looked like the flood-gates may open again, but more good goal-keeping from Richards denied them - Tilbury coming close with a top-corner bound free-kick whilst further chances for the midfield man, Lemon & Collins were squandered.
Richards then contrived to make a hash of a back-pass and James Lemon dispossessed him, but the 'keeper reacted well to tip his effort onto the post.
Lemon wasn't to be denied again though and he added two more goals before the end of the game to complete his hat-trick, Spa's scoring for the evening and his 21st goal in 23 appearances.

Droitwich's front two have now scored a combined 48 goals between them this season- making them the most potent strike-force in the league and has helped Spa's goal-difference in no small measure - the Saltmen have now scored 79 goals in just 19 league games, conceding just 25.

As for Bustleholme, this result leaves them nervously looking over their shoulders at the bottom two, who both have games in hand and now a better goal-difference.

On Saturday, Droitwich will have a stern test as they meet newly promoted Gornal Colts (6th placed) at Bromsgrove Sporting's Victoria Ground (ko 3pm).