DROITWICH Spa Men’s Firsts slumped to a heavy 6-1 home defeat to Warwick Printing League West Midlands Division One pacesetters Wolverhampton.
The visitors started the stronger and opened the scoring after just two minutes through Dominic Spinks.
Things got worse for Spa as they found themselves 4-0 down with only 12 minutes on the clock as Will Glover, Ben Benton and Alex Mullen-Jones all found the back of the net.
Spa then picked up their pace, having been shocked by Wolves’ flying start, and played the ball around well but despite pinning the visitors into their own circle and forcing short corners, they could not breach the defence which was yet to concede this season.
After the break, Spa came out all guns blazing and their swift attacking play through Marcus Claytor won several awards for physical infringements.
The hosts then showed great hunger as Tommy Ross whistled a ferocious shot just wide of the top right-hand corner.
Eventually Spa’s pressure paid off when a penalty shot rebounded off the post before hitting the foot of a Wolves defender resulting in a penalty flick.
Craig Timmis duly stepped forward and coolly slotted the ball home low and hard to the keeper’s right.
At 4-1 Spa looked dangerous but their fighting spirit was extinguished by two quick-fire strikes from Spinks and James Foster to secure a 6-1 win.
Skipper Simon Baines said: “Droitwich’s hallmark this season has been everyone playing for each other and scrapping for the ball, which was not in evidence against a ruthless Wolverhampton side in the opening 12 minutes.
“We gifted them goals and they did not have to work for them as our marking and tracking was non-existant.
“But what followed please me a lot more with a determination to move ball quickly through transition trying to build pressure.
“In the second half, we showed the team that we can be, moving the ball around higher up the pitch meaning that pressure was created, resulting in penalty corners hence where the goal came from.”
Spa will look to put a disappointing result behind them on Saturday when they head to Evesham (12pm start) and Baines is aiming to ‘get the job done’.
He said: “Evesham is always a difficult place to go and get a win and we have to show our discipline and professionalism to ensure that we get the job done and move on up the league.”
Meanwhile, in West Midlands Two, the Men’s Seconds drew 3-3 at Wednesbury.
Spa got off to the worst possible start as they conceded two early goals but the team regrouped and immediately pulled one back when Luke Wicks’ shot was deflected into the goal.
The visitors continued to attack but were caught on the counter and finished the first half 3-1 down.
Spa dominated the second half and managed to claw their way back to 3-3 with two goals from skipper Barry Williams.
By this point, the visitors were completely on top and looking to find a winner but had to settle for a draw following the sendings off of two of their players.
The Seconds take on Old Wulfrunians on Saturday (1.30pm start).
