CHARLIE Tilley scored a brace as Droitwich Spa returned to winning ways with a dominant 4-1 home victory against Wellington.
Tilley struck either side of half time while Alex Dugmore and substitute Ben Tilbury also found the net at the King George Playing Fields.
The result means Droitwich lead the Hellenic League Division One table by nine points, although second-placed Abingdon United have a game in-hand.
In a frantic start to the game, the home side went close to scoring the opening goal when Perry Moss fired wide after pouncing on a loose ball.
And Spa broke the deadlock on five minutes as Moss raced clear down the right and saw his low cross flicked on by Dugmore as Tilley eventually smashed home from close range.
Andy Crowther’s side almost stretched their lead moments later as Cory Rudd saw his effort cleared off the line.
And the Saltmen doubled their lead on 19 minutes when Dugmore scored his 20th goal of the season with a shot which proved too hot to handle for Wellington goalkeeper Jack Oxenham.
Spa looked to extend their lead only for Luke Bufton to produce a perfectly-timed last-ditch tackle to deny Moss a shot on goal.
However, the Tangerines halved the deficit on 35 minutes when Carlos Moreira beat the offside trap and finished across goal into the bottom corner.
The Saltmen were quick out of the blocks in the second period as Wellington defended valiantly to frustrate the home side.
Both James Lemon and Moss saw their goalbound efforts blocked with the latter’s shot cleared off the line.
And Moss then had a shot deflected wide before a Wellington player threw himself in the way of Jay Sauntson’s shot to deflect another attempt behind.
However, Spa restored their two-goal cushion on the hour mark as the home side overpowered the visitors and Tilley scored his second of the game from close range.
Oxenham then made a fine save to keep out Moss’s effort with Nathan Binner’s follow-up blocked.
At the other end, Dom Rogerson made his only noteworthy save of the game as he kept out Sam Griffiths’ powerful driven effort.
Substitute Tilbury almost sealed the points as he saw his close-range header tipped over by Oxenham.
However, Tilbury finished Josh Hurdman’s low cross from six-yards out with five minutes left to play to complete the scoring and net his first goal since returning to the club.
Droitwich are next in action against Cheltenham Saracens on Saturday, February 8 with kick-off at 3pm at the King George Playing Fields.
