DROITWICH Spa slumped to a disappointing 3-1 defeat away at bottom of the table Smethwick Rangers as the Saltmen suffered a third straight defeat in all competitions.
Despite leading through Charlie Tilley’s strike early in the second half, Smethwick scored two quickfire goals to turn the game on its head before completing the scoring from the penalty spot.
And the result means Droitwich sit third in the Midland Football League Division One table, 10 points behind leaders Hinckley AFC with two games in-hand.
The game took place at the home of Boldmere St Michaels and the Saltmen almost made the perfect start with Luke Molloy denied by Smethwick stopper Harold Edjangue.
Spa striker Connor Collins then saw his effort deflect onto the post and behind for a corner before Jack Davies drilled a shot narrowly wide of the goal.
The away side went close again through Perry Moss after the midfielder beat four Smethwick defender only to shoot wide of the target.
Edjangue made another fine save to tip Collins’ header onto the crossbar before Jevani Robinson cleared Alex Dugmore’s header off of the goalline on the stroke of half time.
Spa eventually broke the deadlock two minutes into the second period when Tilley fired in off the base of the post from 15-yards out from Moss’s low cross.
However, Smethwick drew level on 53 minutes as Jahmaal McIntosh-McMahon collected Joel Chadwick’s poor clearance and scored into an empty net from distance with the Spa goalkeeper well off his line.
And the home side completed the turnaround five minutes later as Robinson burst down the left and cut the ball back to Jake Allen who tapped in from close range.
Andy Crowther’s side looked for an equaliser as Molloy flashed a long range strike across the face of goal before Robinson cleared another Dugmore header off the line.
However, Smethwick extended their lead on 70 minutes when Dylan Green scored from the penalty spot after Cal Green brought down Tabari Maxwell in the area.
The visitors had chances to reduce the deficit as James Lemon fired into the side netting from a tight angle after rounding Edjangue before the Smethwick keeper made a fine save to keep out Tilley’s header.
Spa were unable to find a way back into the game as the Saltmen suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season while Smethwick secured a first league win in exactly three months.
