DROITWICH Spa suffered play-off final heartbreak for the second successive season after losing on penalties to OJM Black Country.
After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, Spa lost 4-3 on penalties as both Cory Rudd and Nathan Binner saw their penalties saved at Triplex Stadium.
The defeat means Andy Crowther’s side will remain in the Midland Football League Division One next season.
OJM spurned a glorious chance to take the lead early on as Kofi Williams blazed a shot well over the bar when one-on-one with Ollie Sayer.
However, Spa broke the deadlock on 28 minutes when an OJM player headed Luke Molloy’s dangerous free-kick from the left into his own net under pressure from Jack Brighton.
The Saltmen stood firm for the remainder of the half while makeshift striker Alex Dugmore fired a speculative half volley over the bar as Spa took a narrow lead into the break.
Droitwich looked to double their lead at the start of the second half as the OJM goalkeeper just beat Brighton to claim James Lemon’s teasing cross.
At the other end, Sayer made a routine save as he comfortably held Jordon Sangha’s shot from distance.
And Sayer then made an excellent save diving to his right to push a free-kick from 20-yards out around the post for a corner.
However, Sayer brought down an OJM player in the box soon after and the home side placed the resulting penalty into the left corner of the goal with eight minutes left to play.
Spa had a glorious chance to win the game late on only for Jamie Sauntson’s shot from inside the box to agonisingly come back off the post as the game went to penalties.
Rudd stepped up first for Spa only to see his shot saved as Sayer then kept out OJM’s first spot kick.
The next four penalties were scored before Binner was denied and OJM took full advantage to convert their remaining spot kicks as Spa’s season ended in a cruel play-off final defeat.
