DROITWICH Spa slipped to a surprise 2-1 defeat away at relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Sporting to leave the Saltmen winless since Boxing Day.
Spa defender Alex Dugmore scored a late goal to give the visitors hope before Connor Collins spurned a chance to equalise at Pride Park.
The result means Droitwich sit fourth in the Midland Football League Division One table, three points behind the two teams above them.
Former Spa goalkeeper Matt Oliver came out of retirement to fill the fifth spot on the Droitwich bench with Andy Crowther’s squad ravaged by injuries.
However, the Saltmen made a strong start as Archie Woodall headed Nathan Binner’s cross wide from a couple of yards out.
And Charllie Tilley then saw his effort come back off the crossbar before Sporting’s Fortune Sibanda denied Collins a tap-in with a last-ditch clearance.
However, Sporting broke the deadlock against the run of play on 35 minutes when Sam Baxter rose highest to guide a header into the net from a free-kick.
And the home side doubled their lead two minutes later as Jack Arnold cut out Woodall’s loose pass on the halfway line and raced through to finish past Dom Rogerson.
A shell-shocked Spa looked for a response in the second period as Callum Green sent a free header wide before Rogerson made a save at the other end only to be replaced by Oliver soon after.
Spa hit the woodwork for a second time when Perry Moss rattled the crossbar with an effort from 20-yards out before Sporting goalkeeper Sam Cooksey kept out Collins’ free-kick.
The Saltmen eventually reduced the deficit on 84 minutes when Dugmore, playing as a makeshift striker, pounced on Cooksey’s poor clearance to keep the visitors in the contest.
And Crowther’s men almost drew level in the final few minutes only for Collins to head wide when well-placed in the box before Cooksey denied Tilley as Spa saw their winless run stretch to three matches.
Droitwich are next in action away at Ingles on Saturday, January 20 with kick-off at 3pm at Homestead Road.
