DROITWICH Spa made a winning start to life back in their hometown with a 3-1 win against Cradley Town on a historic night for the Saltmen.
Spa were made to do it the hard way after falling behind early on before a brace from Connor Collins and a late strike from Haydn Morris sealed the points in front of a club record 510-strong crowd at the King George Playing Fields.
Andy Crowther’s side have won all three of their league matches so far this season and sit fourth in the Midland Football League Division One table.
To mark the historic occasion, the teams were led out by Droitwich Spa Mayor Coun George Duffy as the Saltmen finally returned home following a four-year groundshare with Stourport Swifts.
However, Cradley tore up the script on 20 minutes when Jake Crackett’s free-kick from the right edge of the penalty area evaded everybody and went all the way in through a crowd of bodies.
The heavens opened soon after as torrential rain descended upon the pitch with James Lemon, Perry Moss and Connor Collins all failing to trouble Nana Frimpong in the Cradley goal.
Spa eventually scored their first goal in their new ground on 35 minutes when Collins curled a delightful free-kick in off the left-hand post from 25-yards out to leave Frimpong with no chance.
The weather continued to deteriorate as the half went on and continued into the second period as chances became few and far between.
Droitwich goalkeeper Matt Oliver made a crucial save to keep the scores level when he kept out Kane Showell’s effort with his feet when one-on-one.
And the Saltmen made the most of that save to complete the turnaround on 70 minutes when Collins finished from close range at the back post after Jack Brighton’s cross from the right was flicked into his path.
The game was made safe in injury-time when substitute Morris found the bottom left corner with a shot across the keeper from James Lemon’s cutback.
Droitwich are next in action at home to Coton Green on Saturday, August 20 with kick-off at 3pm at King George Playing Fields.
