Football
Droitwich miss out on place in cup final

DROITWICH Spa’s bid to secure a place in the Evesham Hospital Junior Cup final was ended by Bromsgrove Sporting at the semi-final stage on Saturday when they were beaten 3-1.

Spa followed that up with a 2-0 Midland Combination Division One defeat at title hopefuls Blackwood on Wednesday night, a result that leaves them one place off the bottom of the table with just one game to go, a tough trip to Lichfield City on April 28.

Despite the defeats, boss Richard Goode said he could not have asked for more from his players against what he described as ‘the best two teams in the league’.

“On both occasions we have given our all, and on both occasions it has not quite proved enough, but it was not for the want of trying,” he said.

“We certainly haven’t been embarrassed in either game and we will look to finish strongly and get a positive result when we travel to Lichfield next week.”

Chirs Thurbon pulled one back for Spa when they trailed 2-0 at Sporting on Saturday but a third goal for the hosts put the game to bed.

“We deliberately set out to be quite negative in the first half on Saturday and it worked as we got in at 0-0 at the break having restricted them quite well,” Goode said.

“Kevin Banner caused us plenty of problems and they eased the pressure on themselves by getting an early goal in the second half.

“Once back to 2-1 we gave them a few things to think about but the third goal has killed the tie. They were the best side we have played in a while and I wish them all the best in the final.”

Wednesday’s trip to Blackwood also saw Spa go in level at 0-0 at the interval but two second half goals gave the hosts all three points.

“It has been a bit of a common theme in the last few games that we’ve been level or ahead at the break but not gone on to make the most of it in the second half,” Goode said.

“We were solid in the first half but Blackwood turned the screw after half time and were good value for their victory in the end.

“Blackwood’s staff and players conducted themselves in a great manner on the night and I wished them luck at the end in getting promotion and reaching where they want to be.”

With Northfield having picked up four points from their last two games, Wednesday’s defeat saw Spa slip to 17th in the table with just Phoenix United, who have one point less but two games in hand, behind them.

“Northfield winning on Saturday was a bit of a kick in the teeth for us but we’ve got to go to Lichfield and try and win and see what happens with the table,” Goode added.

“It is never nice having to look at and worry about other teams results but that is the situation we find ourselves in.”

Regional sport »