CAPTAIN Max Young produced a valiant display when hitting 93, but he was unable to guide Droitwich Spa to victory against fellow strugglers Oldwinsford & Stourbridge Social.
Visitors Oldwinsford set an ultimately unassailable target of 185, before dismissing Spa for 146 to condemn the hosts to an eighth loss in a row in Worcestershire County League Division One.
Openers Dominic Friel (27) and Thomas Blunt (50) put on an opening stand of 85, before slumping to 93-4 after Matt Gurr (3-33) took two wickets in an over and Young made a couple of catches.
The middle order duo of Harry Stanier (41) and Matt Watts (21) resurrected the innings for Oldwinsford after a fifth-wicket partnership of 63.
Another collapse, this time from the tailenders, prevented Oldwinsford from furthering their advantage, but Spa still had it all to do at the change of ends.
Opener Young oversaw the majority of the innings, as his side slipped to 60-6, with David Huntbatch, Kieran Wilkins and Jez Hanson recording no scores.
Patrick Addis’ (4-34) bowling display, including a hat-trick for the first three wickets, prevented Droitwich from gaining any momentum.
However, Young’s perseverance to keep battling paid dividends when finally being provided support by Adam Keen (10) to hit 60 for the seventh wicket.
The captain’s decision to slog a ball in search of his seventh six proved fatal, when caught on the boundary, with tailender Ajay Kumar following suit shortly after to confirm defeat.
Droitwich face a huge game at Worcester Nomads – who are also in relegation trouble – on Saturday (1pm).
