EXCITEMENT is building ahead of the Boxing Day treat which sees local and promotion rivals Fairfield Villa and Droitwich Spa go head-to-head once again.
Both go into the post-Christmas match on Monday gunning for promotion from Midland Football League Division Two after enjoying impressive starts to the 2016/17 campaign.
Following their 4-1 win over Bloxwich Town last weekend, Fairfield occupy second spot with 32 points from 15 games – three points off leaders Alvis Sporting Club.
Droitwich sit just below them, outside the promotion places, in third with 29 points from their first 15 games.
A big crowd is expected at The Recreation Ground (12pm kick-off) for the clash. A win for the home side would leave them them six points clear of Droitwich who have not been in action since losing 1-0 at Smithswood Furs on December 10.
But a win for the visitors will see them leapfrog Fairfield back into second place thanks to a superior goal difference over Wayne Davis’ men.
And judging by the teams’ last two meetings this season, fans can expect to see plenty of goal action with ten goals being scored in those games.
In the August Bank Holiday weekend, Droitwich came back from 2-0 down at half time to record a stunning 3-2 league win.
And Spa thrashed Fairfield 5-0 in their last meeting in the Worcester Junior Cup in September.
Speaking to the Standard, Fairfield Villa boss Davis said his side will be hoping it’s a case of being third time lucky this Christmas.
“We’ve come a long way since our last two meetings against Droitwich and go into the game in good form,” he said.
“Our players have learned a lot since we last played them and are now more consistent defensively and the goals are starting to come as well.
“When they won last time round they rightfully celebrated, I think it’s time we put one over on them. It’s a derby we always want to win.
“But if we are not on our game we could come unstuck once again.”
Spa go into the game with last season’s top scorer James Lemon a major doubt after he pulled a quad muscle earlier in the month.
Joint boss Wayne Oliver admitted his side go into the clash as under dogs.
“It’s all to play for at the moment so it should be a really good game,” he said.
“Fairfield Villa are flying at the moment so I would say we go into it as slight underdogs but we’ll certainly be going for it.”
Fairfield Villa have announced admission is free and hope to see a big crowd for the game.
