JAMES LEMON scored a hat-trick as Droitwich Spa eased to a 4-0 win against Wrens Nest in their first league game for over two months.
Lemon doubled Spa’s lead before striking twice more in the second period to complete his treble after Connor Collins had tapped in the opener.
And the result means Droitwich remain third in the West Midlands (Regional) League Division One table, 13 points off the top with three games in-hand.
The visitors started brightly and forced Matt Oliver into an early save when he held onto Elliot Palmer’s weak shot.
Droitwich responded with chances of their own as both Lemon and Collins fired wide from good positions before Haydn Morris forced Jack Fellows into a save at full stretch.
And Spa eventually broke the deadlock when Collins stroked home from close range after Luke Molloy’s deep cross was headed onto the crossbar.
Lemon then quickly doubled Spa’s lead when he pounced on a weak back-pass to put Andy Crowther’s side in command.
Cory Rudd, Morris, Lemon and Molloy all had half chances before the break but were unable to add to Droitwich’s lead before the half-time whistle sounded.
And the visitors were reduced to 10-men early in the second period when Chris Pike was shown a second yellow card after he made a needless sliding challenge.
The Saltmen took full advantage when Lemon tapped home on the hour mark after Perry Moss’s effort had come back off the post.
Lemon had a golden chance to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot only to be denied by a good save from Wrens Nest goalkeeper Fellows.
However, Lemon would eventually score a third goal when he dragged the visiting out of position before finishing through Fellows and into the net.
The win marked Droitwich’s first clean sheet since August as they look to close the gap to leaders Gornal Athletic over the coming weeks.
Droitwich are next in action away at Bromyard Town on Saturday, January 29 with kick-off at 3pm at Delahay Meadow.
