DROITWICH Spa beat AFC Bridgnorth 6-4 in a 10-goal thriller as Haydn Morris scored a hat-trick to boost the Saltmen’s play-off prospects.
Morris twice put Spa in front and later completed the scoring as Connor Collins netted a brace and James Lemon also found the net at the King George Playing Fields.
The result lifts Spa up to fourth in the Midland Football League Division One table.
Andy Crowther’s side made the perfect start when Morris broke the deadlock after just four minutes only for Bridgnorth to equalise through Charlie Swingwood who volleyed home from close range.
However, the home side restored their lead when Morris scored his second of the night when he was quickest to react to a loose ball and guide an effort past Harvey Coley.
And Spa extended their lead with two quickfire goals before the break as Collins produced a fine chip over Coley from a tight angle and Lemon nodded in at the back post.
There was still time for Bridgnorth to reduce the deficit before the half-time whistle as Dom Rogerson could only parry a shot into the path of the unfortunate Cory Rudd who deflected the ball into his own net.
And Bridgnorth completed an extraordinary comeback just seven minutes after the break as Dan Turton’s close range header and Luke Morris’s goal restored parity.
The latter strike was initially ruled out for offside only for the referee to overturn the decision and award the goal following a lengthy discussion with the assistant.
However, Lemon led the Droitwich line by example and was rewarded for chasing numerous lost causes when he was fouled in the area by Turton.
Collins duly dispatched the resulting penalty on the hour mark to put Spa in front for the third time on the night.
And the Saltmen won another penalty 10 minutes later when Lemon was fouled again in the box and Morris completed the scoring and his hat-trick from the spot to seal the points.
Droitwich are next in action away at league leaders Dudley Town on Saturday, April 1 with kick-off at 3pm at the Guardian Warehousing Arena.
