Droitwich win 11-goal thriller - The Droitwich Standard

Droitwich win 11-goal thriller

Droitwich Editorial 2nd Sep, 2014 Updated: 17th Oct, 2016   0

DROITWICH managed to secure their first victory of the season on Saturday but made hard work of it as they defeated determined visitors Earlswood Town 7-4 after extra time in the first round of the Presidents Cup.

Droitwich began the game slowly without being under any real pressure and found themselves taking the lead through Nick Seabourne’s neat header. Tom Clark did well to turn his marker before feeding Henry Davis who beat the full back before dinking a precision cross on to the head of the oncoming Seabourne.

The hosts were now on top and deservedly doubled their lead soon afterwards as again Clark caused problems for the Earlswood centre backs before finding Jim Ward who slotted home from the edge of the box.

Earlswood were sparked into life and began to put pressure on Droitwich but on 40 minutes Andrew Crowther calmed the Droitwich nerves with another good finish from distance to take Andy Pheasant’s side into the break at 3-0 up.




Whatever was said in the Earlswood dressing room at half time certainly worked as they came out in the second half with a different shape and seemingly different side.

Within 20 minutes Droitwich’s advantage had disappeared as Earlswood exploited defensive frailties within the Droitwich defence.


Earlswood then completed the comeback to take an astonishing 4-3 lead with ten minutes to go but, just as time was running out, Spa substitute Steve Pitt drew Droitwich level with a piece of individual brilliance, turning away from two defenders before unleashing a thunderbolt strike into the far top corner to force the tie into extra time.

In the first period of extra time Mike Seeley was adjudged to have handled in the box and Earlswood were awarded a penalty kick. The striker connected well but the returning veteran Nick West pulled off a stunning one-handed save down to his left to keep the score all square.

Droitwich then turned the screw and were shortly awarded a penalty of their own which Seabourne dispatched into the roof of the net and a sixth Spa goal quickly followed when Jim Ward bagged his second of the game and the tie was effectively over when Lucas Tilsley buried a right foot drive into the top corner from five yards out.

Droitwich return to Midland Football League Division Two action on Saturday when they travel to local rivals Feckenham’s Studley Sports & Social Club home.

Spa reserves have their first game of the season at home to Knowle Reserves. Both games kick-off at 3pm.

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