Reports:
Wernley Ath 5-2 Droitwich SpaDroitwich's promotion
hopes were finally ended last Wednesday (April 4) when they lost 5-2
to ambitious Wernley. Spa showed plenty of spirit after going 2-0
down as a spectacular goal for Steve Morgan and Phil Hale's effort
either side of half time levelled the scores.
Wernley edged ahead once again and as Droitwich went in search of
another goal the home team grabbed two more to give the game a harsh
scoreline.
Goss said: "It may seem like a strange thing to say but I thought
that was the best performance of the season.
"We matched them for 70 minutes but once they went ahead again
their class told and we couldn't cope with them."
"But it was a brilliant performance. I'd lose 5-2 every game if
we play like that."
Enville Ath. 1-3 Droitwich Spa
DROITWICH maintained their promotion chances in the Midland
Combination Division Two with an impressive win over Enville on
Saturday.
Goals for Chris Everett, Ross Duggan and Phil Hale made sure that
Spa made it four wins in a row.
Victory also means that Spa are still in with a chance of
finishing in the second promotion spot.
Droitwich currently reside in second but Wernley and Coventry
Sphinx Reserves could still overtake them if they win their games in
hand.
Manager Tom Goss though admitted that promotion was not at the
top of his list of priorities.
He said: "We could finish second or we could end up fifth at the
moment because there are a few teams with a lot of games in hand. To
be honest my main priority is playing good football, not promotion.
I think at the moment the team is doing that."
Despite a host of injuries on Saturday Droitwich produced another
excellent performance to see off Enville.
The manager believes the reason for the excellent results is down
to the players enjoying themselves.
"I don't think there's any pressure on us and we're just enjoying
our football," said Goss.
"The lads are playing with a smile on their face and feel free to
play some good football.
"That's a great credit to our players because a lot of these guys
have been on the bench this season and I bet I wasn't on their
Christmas cards list but they all worked very hard."
Droitwich go to Earlswood Town this Saturday (March 31) in a
re-arranged league game.
Droitwich Spa 2 Perrywood 0
DROITWICH'S promotion hopes were strengthened after a dominant
display in the Midland Combination Division Two on Saturday.
Spa's victory was the team's sixth in seven games and combined with
fellow promotion chaser Wernley's 2-1 loss to Earlswood blew the
race for second place wide open. Wernley would have a point lead
over Spa if they win their five games in hand. Droitwich still have
a chance to overtake them and play Wernley away on April 4. On
Saturday Droitwich were far too strong for Perrywood as Aaron Parr's
brace made sure of victory.
Goalkeeper Nick West said: " We dominated from start to
finish and I didn't really have much to do throughout the game. We
got the first goal at a good time and didn't look back from there."
DROITWICH SPA 3 EARLSWOOD TOWN 0
Spa equalled their best win of the season when they won a tough
match against
a determined Earlswood Town side by three clear goals. Earlswood had
won
3-2 at King George's in December in a cup game but Droitwich gave a
determined
performance throughout the side and scored three cracking goals to
seal the
three points.  Droitwich got off to a flying start and took the lead after just
eight minutes
play when Ross Duggan netted straight from a left wing corner. On a
heavy
playing surface play was fairly well balanced and the Spa goal had a
couple
of let offs. The home side were also unfortunate not to score when
Andy Pheasant's
header shaved the crossbar.
A narrow 1-0 interval lead always looked vulnerable, but the
important cushion
of a second goal came after 53 minutes. Arron Parr - on as a
substitute for
the injured Phil Hale - beat three defenders in an impressive run
before
firing home with a low drive.
Spa increased the advantage to three when a delicate chip by Arron
Parr was lobbed over the Earlswood keeper after 89 minutes.
A good team performance from Spa, with every player coming out the
game with
plenty of credit.
Team : Nick West, Darren Charles, Neil McCullough, Ben Pheasant,
Phil Hale,
Dave Fox, Ross Duggan, Andy Pheasant, Matt Crawford, Dean Wise,
Roger Denby
Sub used : Arron Parr
Droitwich Spa 2
Continental Reserves 3
DROITWICH's top two hopes in the Midland Combination Division Two
was dented as they were beaten by Continental Star on Saturday. Spa
were edged out despite goals for Ian Cottrill and Chris Everett.
Defeat means that Droitwich remain in third place, two points behind
Wernely.
Droitwich Spa 2 Warwick Town 1
After a nondescript opening 45 minutes Spa gave an excellent
performance
in the second half, and not for the first time this season turned
round a
half-time deficit to register all three points.
Goalmouth action was at a premium in the first half as the two
sides virtually
cancelled each other out. However Warwick broke the deadlock on 35
minutes
when Tom Sanders, attempting to clear a dangerous low cross, could
only steer
the ball into his own net. In a rare Droitwich attack Andy Jenkins
had a
header cleared off the line in the last action of the first half.
In the second half Spa came flying out of the blocks and equalised
on 50
minutes when Ross Duggan calmly scored with a low drive after
being set up
by Arron Parr.
Duggan was on target again after 57 minutes, when his free-kick
was driven
through a crowded penalty area to give Spa a deserved 2-1 lead.
Droitwich remained in the driving seat for the remainder of the
game, but
couldn't add to their score.
Team : Bradley Eiffe, Dean Wise, Roger Denby, Tom Sanders,
Lee Elvins, Andy
Jenkins, Ross Duggan, Dave Fox, Matt Crawford, Arron Parr, Chris
Everett
Subs used : Phil Hale, Darren Charles, Andy Pheasant
Worcester City A 0
Droitwich Spa 1
DROITWICH Spa grabbed a last gasp winner to see off a tough
Worcester City side in the Midland Combination Division Two on
Saturday.
Aaron Parr maintained his scoring form when he bagged a winner
against the run of play.
Manager Tom Goss said: "It was a good win because the game was
really close. I thought we made four or five good chances to score.
"Worcester probably shaded the second period but we did really
well to score.
"The players are learning to step up to this level and are
attracting a lot of attention off the other teams. We've had a few
players out through injury and the ones that have come in have done
a wonderful job."
Droitwich will be without Ian Cottrill and Ben Pheasant for this
Saturday's home game against Warwick (February 3, 2.45pm kick off).
Droitwich Spa 2-3 Earlswood Town
Spa were knocked out of the Midland Combination Challenge Vase
at the second
round stage when they lost 3-2 at home to Earlswood Town.
Spa's disjointed first half perfomance saw them trailing by 2-0 at
the interval.
Earlswood took advantage of hesitation in the Droitwich defence and
opened
their account after just 2 minutes. The visitors were the better
side for
the remainder of the opening half and a fine solo goal doubled their
lead
a minute before the break.
Droitwich performed much better after the interval, although it took
a Chris
Everett header off the line to prevent Earlswood going three goals
up. Spa
pulled one back on 50 minutes, when Phil Hale's excellent header
from a pin
point right wing cross by Stewart James gave the home fans something
to cheer.
And within five minutes parity was restored when Matt Crawford
seized on
a misplaced back header to make the scoreline 2-2.
The match then hinged on two controversial penalty decisions - one
not given,
and the other awarded. Spa had good claims for a spot kick when Matt
Crawford
was brought down from behind, but the referee merely awarded a
corner and
Matt's injury meant that he had to be substituted.
And a minute later Earlswood were given a penalty after a shot had
cannoned
off a Droitwich defender's arm, when there appeared to be no intent.
Before
the penalty was taken Lee Elvins was shown a red card after he had
explained
the error of his ways to the referee.
Earlswood scored from the penalty, on 72 minutes, and they held on
their
3-2 lead until the final whistle.
Spa team : Bradley Eiffe, Matt Crawford, Chris Hartshorne, Tom
Sanders, Lee
Elvins, Phil Hale, Matt Morton, Andy Pheasant (captain), Stewart
James, Arron
Parr, Chris Everett
Subs used : Steve Walsh, Ross Duggan, Roger Denby
Droitwich Spa 0-1 Littleton
1. Nick West
2. Matt Crawford
3. Roger Denby
4. Lee Elvins
5. Ian Cottrill
6. Tom Sanders
7. Matt Morton
8. Andy Jenkins
9. Stewart James
10. Arron Parr
11. Ross Duggan
12. Chris Hartshorne
14. Steve Walsh
Perrywood 1-2 Droitwich Spa
Spa scorers v Perrywood - Ian Cottrill; Tom Sanders
Team : Nick West; Tom Sanders; Neil McCullough; Ian Cottrill; Phil
Hale;
Chris Everitt; Ross Duggan; Andy Jenkins; Stewart James; Arron Parr;
Roger
Denby
Subs used - Dave Francis; Steve Walsh; Jim McDevitt
Spa extended their unbeaten run to four matches and kept a clean
sheet for
the fourth consecutive game, but they would be slightly
disappointed to be
held to a 0-0 draw.
Matches between these teams are usually close affairs, and this
game was no
exception. Feckenham's bumpy sloping pitch makes good football
difficult,
but Spa produced some useful approach play as they were on top in
the
opening half. However goalscoring chances were at a premium as two
strong
defences were generally in control.
The second half, with Spa kicking up the slope, followed a similar
pattern
with little in the way of goalmouth action, although Matt Crawford
did test
the home keeper with a powerful long range shot.
Droitwich were fortunate when a rare moment of indecision at the
back almost
allowed Feckenham to break the deadlock; the home team hit the bar
and the
follow-up saw the shot go wide of a gaping goal.
The closing stages were played out in a torrential downpour which
left the
pitch virtually unplayable, but both sides continued to battle
until the
final whistle and deserve credit for the way they coped with the
conditions.
Another hard-working performance from Spa, epitomised by Matt
Morton and
Andy Jenkins in midfield and by Ben Pheasant, playing as sweeper
in place of
unavailable player/coach Ian Cottrill.
Team : Nick West; Tom Sanders; Neil McCullough; Ben Pheasant;
Martin
Jackson; Andy Jenkins; Matt Morton (captain); Ross Duggan; Stewart
James;
Matt Crawford; Roger Denby
Subs used : Pete Cartwright; Lee Elvins; Andy Pheasant
DROITWICH SPA 3
WORCESTER CITY "A" 0
(Scorers - Stewart James 2, Matt Crawford)
In front of their biggest home crowd for some time, Spa eased to a
comfortable 3-0 win over a youthful Worcester City "A" team. Neil
McCullough
and Ian Cottrill both went close in the early stages, but
Droitwich had to
wait until the 35th minute before they finally made the
breakthrough. Top
scorer Stewart James showed good control before hitting the
target, and two
minutes later he was denied by the upright when his header hit the
woodwork.
Tom Sanders had a good effort tipped round the post, and a minute
before the
interval Spa went two goals ahead when Ian Cottrill's header was
steered
home by Stewart James, for his second goal of the game.
In the second half Spa continued to hold the upper hand, and they
were
unfortunate not to increase the lead when headers from Matt
Crawford and
Neil McCullough hit the bar. The third goal came with eleven
minutes to go
when Matt Crawford scored after an excellent build up by Pete
Cartwright and
Stewart James.
That makes it three league wins on the trot for Spa, and
encouragingly it
was a third consecutive clean sheet.
Team : Nick West; Tom Sanders; Martin Jackson; Ian Cottrill; Lee
Elvins;
Andy Jenkins; Ross Duggan; Andy Pheasant (captain); Stewart James;
Matt
Crawford; Neil McCullough
Subs used : Alex Kolb; Matt Morton; Pete Cartwright
Attendance : 63
A goal eleven minutes from time secured all three points for
Droitwich, and
in an entertaining game of football Spa just about deserved the
win.
Both sides played good football, but with two well organised and
solid
defences goal-scoring opportunities were at a premium. Spa's
best efforts
until the goal were a first half shot from Chris Hartshorne that
was headed
off the line and after the break a shot from Ross Duggan that
the Sphinx
goalkeeper plucked from under the crossbar. Nick West had also
made a couple
of smart stops in the Spa goal.
The youthful visitors were continuing to play neat football, but
Spa's
experience was snuffing out most threats in the final third. A
0-0 looked on
the cards, but Droitwich then broke the deadlock on 79 minutes.
An excellent
through ball from Tom Sanders found Stewart James in space on
the left, and
Spa's leading scorer moved forward and then spotting the keeper
slightly off
his line hit the target with a delightful lob.
Att : 31
Team : Nick West; Pete Cartwright; Alex Kolb; Ian Cottrill; Lee
Elvins; Andy
Jenkins; Matt Morton (captain); Andy Pheasant; Stewart James;
Matt Crawford;
Chris Hartshorne
Subs used - Ross Duggan; Martin Jackson; Tom Sanders
Cadbury Athletic
Res. 0-2 Droitwich Spa
Spa team
Nick West; Tom Sanders; Alex Kolb; Ian Cottrill; Lee Elvins;
Martin Jackson; Matt Morton (captain); Ross Duggan; Stewart
James; Matt Crawford; Roger Denby
Subs used - Andy Pheasant; Pete Cartwright
Scorer(s) - Crawford, James
Spa 1 Coton
Green 4
Scorer : Stewart James
Team : Nick West; Tom Sanders; Neil
McCullough; Ian Cottrill; Martin Jackson; Jamie Hatfield; Matt
Morton; Andy Pheasant (capt); Stewart James; Matt Crawford; Chris
Everett
Subs used : Ross Duggan; Pete
Cartwright; Chris Hartshorne
Att : 38
A disappointing second half
performance by Spa saw them slump to a heavy home defeat. The
opening half had seen two well matched sides turn round at 1-1,
with Droitwich having slightly shaded those opening 45 minutes. An
excellent shot from Stewart James had given Spa the lead after
just seven minutes play, but Coton were level within three minutes
when a free-kick was deflected into the Droitwich goal.
In the second period Spa
unaccountably lost their shape, and with Coton demonstrating some
neat passing it was the visitors who went 2-1 ahead with a low
angled drive on 56 minutes. A shot from the edge of the area on 65
minutes increased the advantage, and with Spa still well below par
there was little pressure being put on the Coton defence.
With five minutes remaining the
visitors should have been reduced to ten men, but an unprovoked
off-the-ball foul on Martin Jackson was somehow only deemed
punishable by a yellow card. Ironically with all three subs
already used Spa were unable to replace the injured Jackson, and
therefore they had to play a man short for the remaining few
minutes. To rub further salt into the wound another clinical
finish in stoppage time gave Coton a 4-1 victory.
Scorers : Matt Crawford; Stuart
James
Team : Nick West; Tom Sanders; Neil
McCullough (capt); Tony Banks; Lee Elvins; Jamie Hatfield; Martin
Jackson; Dave Fox; Stuart James; Matt Crawford; Gary Cleaver
Subs used : Ross Duggan; Arron Parr;
Pete Cartwright
Spa got off to a good start when
they took the lead after just seven minutes play. Tom Sanders
through ball found MATT CRAWFORD, and he produced a pinpoint lob
over the Kenilworth goalkeeper to put put Spa 1-0 ahead. However
the visitors equalised on 18 minutes with a firm diving header,
which Nick West got a hand to but couldn't prevent the ball
crossing the line.
Droitwich looked like a an early
season side for the remainder of the opening half, and in
torrential rain the game certainly didn't flow.
However any side with Tom Goss in
charge is always going to battle, and as the second half evolved
the hard work combined with some good team play saw Droitwich
gradually taking control.
New signing Ross Duggan made a good
impression when he came on as substitute, and he created the
opportunity for STUART JAMES to score the winning goal five
minutes from time. Duggan showed excellent control before putting
over a very good right wing cross and James produced a glancing
header to steer the ball wide of the keeper.
Not a great game, but Spa demonstrating plenty of resilience with
a team that included several players from the reserves due to
combination of holidays, suspension, injuries and unavailability.
Team : Nick West; Tom Sanders; Neil
McCullough; Ian Cottrill; Tony Banks; Jamie Hatfield; Ross Duggan;
Andy Pheasant (capt); Martin Jackson; Arron Parr; Chris Hartshorne
Sub used - Pete Cartwright
Att : 40
Midland Combination newcomers
Wernley Athletic are probably the strongest side to have played in
Division Two - their line-up today included several players with
considerable Football League experience, and they are already
installed as favourites to win promotion.
But Spa were desperately unlucky not
to have taken a point from the game. The visitors had most of the
play, and unsurprisingly given their strength they played some
very good football. Spa defended extremely well, with the back
four - Tom Sanders, Ian Cottrill, Tony Banks and Neil McCullough -
in magnificent form, and goalkeeper Nick West coping with
everything that came his way.
As the game progressed Spa were
starting to create a few openings of their own, but weren't able
to test the Wernley keeper. As the match went into stoppage time
it looked like finishing 0-0, but the visitors then struck the
winning goal and left Spa despondent.
A very spirited performance from
Droitwich, and they can take plenty of encouragement from the
game, especially as they were several players short of a full
strength squad due to injury, suspension and unavailability.
Scorers : Own goal; Stuart James;
Andy Pheasant
Team : Bradley Eiffe; Tom Sanders;
Neil McCullough; Ian Cottrill; Martin Jackson; Jamie Hatfield;
Andy Jenkins; Andy Pheasant (capt); Stuart James; Ross Duggan;
Matt Morton
Subs used - Chris Hartshorne; Pete
Cartwright; Lee Elvins
Attendance : 37
Spa showed plenty of character in
this game, and turned round a 2-1 half-time deficit as they came
back with a storming second half performance to register their
first league points of the season.
The match began in promising fashion
when Spa took the lead after just four minutes play, when a
searching cross from skipper Andy Pheasant was headed into his own
net by an Enville defender. Droitwich continued to be in the
ascendancy for the opening twenty minutes but then allowed the
visitors back into the game. Enville equalised after 37 minutes
with a close range shot after a scramble in the Spa goalmouth, and
three minutes later took the lead with a drive from the edge of
the penalty area.
So Droitwich found themselves
trailing at the interval, but they regrouped very effectively
after the break and played some attractive football. They were
rewarded on 57 minutes when they levelled the scores at 2-2, as
Stuart James steered a low cross from Tom Sanders wide of the
Enville keeper. And as Spa continued to be on top they were back
in front after 67 minutes with a superb long range goal from Andy
Pheasant.
Spa looked the more likely to add to
the scoreline, but they couldn't add the cushion of a fourth goal.
Overall this was an encouraging performance, especially in the
last 45 minutes and they now have a platform on which to build.
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