DROITWICH Spa’s title hopes appear all but over following a 3-0 defeat away at top-of-the-table Slimbridge in midweek.
Goals from Olly Sully, Shiyak Sutherland and Jack W Smith at Thornhill Park condemned Spa to a third consecutive defeat on the road in all competitions.
The result means Droitwich sit fourth in the Hellenic League Premier Division table with a game in hand on the three teams above them.
However, the Saltmen now trail leaders Slimbridge by 11 points with just five matches left to play.
The game’s first chance fell to Slimbridge as Jack Smith broke down the left and drilled an effort inches past the post.
Spa created a chance of their own at the other end when Nathan Binner fired off target while Perry Moss directed an overhead kick onto the roof of the net.
However, the home side eventually broke the deadlock in first-half injury time as Sully beat several defenders and smashed a shot past Joe Stockton in the Spa net.
Droitwich went close after the break as Binner saw his effort saved by Slimbridge goalkeeper Steve Sarkodie.
However, Slimbridge doubled their lead three minutes from time when Sutherland blasted an effort into the net to all but end the game as a contest.
And the home side added a third goal less than a minute later as Jack W Smith rounded Stockton and found the net to dent Spa’s title hopes.
Droitwich are next in action against Longlevens AFC on Saturday, April 4 with kick-off at 3pm at Saw Mills End.
