THE SALTMEN finished off their 2018/19 season in style, after taking home the Worcestershire County Cup with a 2-1 win over Malvern Town Reserves in the final.
Goals from Ben Tilbury and Matty Hunt overturned a first-half deficit to lift the cup at Pershore Town’s Community Stadium home, in front of a 250 strong crowd watching on.
The game itself proved an uneventful affair, with the strong winds caused by Storm Hannah playing a significant role in the lack of quality in the game.
But Droitwich will not lose much sleep over the flow of the game, having added silverware to cap off a strong season in which they finished third in the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One.
Nerves were evident in the Droitwich ranks when stepping out for kick-off, but they still managed to create the best openings of the half – despite not taking them.
Tilbury hit the woodwork from range, before sending over from a promising position, while Jack Allerton missed the target altogether when it seemed harder to miss.
Malvern then enjoyed a succession of corners, from which they opened the scoring.
On 21 minutes, a corner kick drifted towards the near post caught out goalkeeper Matt Oliver, who was beaten by the sudden change in direction of the ball in the bellowing wind – going straight into the net.
Spa knew they had to step it up in the second period, and whilst the game initially appeared to be playing out in similar fashion to the first, Droitwich eventually broke through following a malaise in the game.
The changes made by Mark Owen and Wayne Oliver seemed to spark the Saltmen into life, with Brad Burgess, Max Crisp and Dan Cottrill all stepping onto the pitch.
A free-kick from Tilbury was thrashed goalwards and went straight through the goalkeeper on its way into the net, with the wind again playing a part – to Droitwich’s benefit this time around.
Then, having levelled and taken the initiative to continue to press forward, Spa found the winner.
With nine minutes remaining, sustained pressure eventually told when Hunt rose highest to head home Jonny Brookes’ free-kick in at the near post, sparking wild celebrations and ultimately proving the winner.
The team and supporters then headed back to the Old Cock Inn in Droitwich, from where the day had started, to celebrate the victory.
Droitwich are set to get their pre-season schedule underway on Tuesday July 9 (7:15pm), when they visit Feckenham in a pre-season friendly at Brickyard Lane in Studley.
