There was a lot riding on the game for both sides, as Shortwood also required all three points to keep their play-off hopes alive, so the opening twenty minutes were cagey and nervous with both sides cancelling each other out.

Alfie Bradshaw almost gave United the lead as Droitwich gave the ball away on the right, the United top scorer cut inside and hit a top corner bound shot from the edge of the area at Dom Rogerson did well to tip around the post.

The Saltmen took control of the game as first James Lemon's free kick was comfortably saved by Joe Wright, then Perry Moss twisted and turned before producing a fine low finish in to the bottom corner, only for the linesman to spot a handball in the build up, seeing the goal disallowed.

Buoyed by the misfortune, barely a minute later Moss turned provider as through a crowd of bodies he found Nathan Binner who lashed home from a tight angle to give Spa the lead on 31 minutes.

The Saltmen went in search of a second and Wright did well to punch away a powerful strike from Lemon, and Sam Carey, in search of his first Spa goal, came close after a scramble in the penalty area but couldn't find the target.

It was 0-2 before the break however when Binner's corner found the head of leading scorer Alex Dugmore who powered home from 8-yards out.

Shortwood should have pulled a goal back before the break and it was Bradshaw again who forced Rogerson into a fine one-handed reflex save with a strong header from close range.

The second half was alot less eventful, however that owed credit to some excellent Droitwich organization which nullified the Shortwood attacking threat, meanwhile the only save of note in the entire half came from Wright who did well to tip a header over the cross-bar, as Spa got into some promising positions but lacked a precise final ball.

It didn't matter though as Andy Crowther's men saw the game out to spark wild celebrations for the players and 150-strong away support that made the journey down to Gloucestershire.

It was also a 12th clean sheet of the season for Spa's defensive unit in a run 11 League games without defeat.

The Saltmen have two more games remaining and will be looking to complete the season without an away defeat, one of the only remaining streaks remaining in the country, at Clanfield next Saturday (ko 3pm) before returning to Kingy's on Saturday 12th April to finish the season on home soil against Tytherington Rocks (ko 3pm).

In 2025-26, the clubs' 40th anniversary season will see the town of Droitwich Spa host Step 5 and FA Cup football for the first time ever.