Market Drayton Hockey Club 1st XI 2 Droitwich Hockey Club 1st XI 3

DETERMINED Droitwich tightened their grip on the top of the West Midlands Division One with a ruthless display of finishing on Saturday.

Two second half goals put Droitwich in the driving seat, despite Drayton pulling back one late in the game.

Captain Paul Atkinson felt his side had always been in control.

He said: "Market gave us a good game the last time we played them and I was a little worried they might push us all the way.

"But the scoreline suggests it was a lot closer than the game actually was.

"We controlled the second half and never looked like losing."

Ed Deacon put the visitors ahead in the first half from a short corner, but Drayton were back on level terms by half time.

Droitwich began pushing the home side back after the break and Nick Adams took advantage of a goal mouth scramble to edge Spa ahead once again.

Atkinson then won a penalty flick which Barry Williams coolly converted.

Drayton responded with a second goal, but resolute Spa held on for victory.

While Spa continued to cement their place at the top of the table Droitwich's main rivals, Walsall, dropped precious points by drawing with Rugeley 1-1.

This means that Spa still hold a five point lead over their second placed Black Country opponents.

However, with Spa tackling Walsall at home on Saturday (3pm start), Atkinson is aware that the pressure is on them in the final third of the season.

He said: "We know we have to keep winning if we want to stay top of the table.

"Anyone of the three teams behind us are capable of going on a winning run and we must make sure that they can't catch us."

Ian Fox is the only absence for this weekend's top of the table clash, as he continues to serve the suspension for his sending off against Kingswinford.

Atkinson said: "At the moment we have some massive games coming up, but we are in a position to make things a lot easier for ourselves.

"There's no reason why we can't keep on winning."

Droitwich are entering the crucial final third of the season and after Walsall face difficult trips away at Yardley and Redditch.