JOSH Hurdman’s late goal all but secured a top-five finish for Droitwich Spa following a hard-fought 2-1 win at Sutton United.
Hurdman struck four minutes from time to seal the points after Lucas Edmonds opened the scoring shortly after half time at Coleshill Road.
The result means Droitwich sit fourth in the Midland Football League Division One table with one fixture left to play.
Spa are two points ahead of OJM Black Country who have a game in-hand and three ahead of Wednesfield who the Saltmen play in their final league fixture.
However, Droitwich’s far superior goal difference means only a huge swing in excess of 10 goals would see the club drop out of the play-off places.
The win against Sutton saw Spa complete a hectic run of six games in the space of just 14 days.
And Sutton made a bright start as Ollie Sayer tipped Sef Semlali’s low drive around the post inside the opening minute.
The home side spurned further chances to take the lead as Sayer denied Sutton skipper Tom Massey before he somehow fired his follow-up attempt wide from close range.
Spa almost broke the deadlock when James Lemon’s close range effort slipped under the Sutton goalkeeper only for the home side to clear the ball off the line.
However, the Saltmen took the lead just three minutes after the break when Edmonds prodded the ball home from a corner moments after Perry Moss saw his dipping effort from range tipped over the bar.
Sutton equalised on the hour mark as Joe Gildea scored from the penalty spot after the referee penalised Spa for a handball in the box.
Andy Crowther’s side almost restored their lead when Alex Dugmore beat the Sutton goalkeeper to a through ball but could only poke his shot wide.
However, with four minutes left to play, substitute Hurdman fired a low effort into the bottom corner to earn Spa a crucial three points.
