A MUCH-CHANGED Droitwich Spa side secured their place in the next round of the League Cup with a 3-1 victory against Smethwick Rangers.
Saltmen boss Andy Crowther made nine changes from the club’s last league outing as Jamie Lucas scored a brace either side of Roland Krol’s strike at the King George Playing Fields.
Spa included three youth players in their starting line-up and made a bright start as Josh Hurdman and Danny Barnes both saw efforts go over the crossbar.
And the home side broke the deadlock on 29 minutes when Lucas headed in from close range after the Smethwick goalkeeper parried Alex Dugmore’s bicycle kick into the striker’s path.
Droitwich doubled their lead just four minutes later as Krol’s bullet header from a corner left the Smethwick keeper with no chance.
Spa’s debutant keeper Joe Neeson denied Jake Allen at the other end before Jack Davies just failed to find the top corner with a shot on the turn shortly before half time.
The home side twice went close to extending their advantage in the second period as Hurdman and Lucas both saw efforts tipped around the post by the Smethwick keeper.
However, Droitwich eventually scored their third goal on 61 minutes when Lucas finished into an empty net from eight-yards out from Krol’s cutback.
Both Davies and Hurdman went close to adding to Spa’s lead before Allen scored a consolation goal for Smethwick late on with a finish from close range.
Droitwich are next in action at home to Chelmsley Town on Saturday, November 4 with kick-off at 3pm at Kingy’s.
