Droitwich entertained Atherstone in a friendly on Saturday before the Christmas break begins and wanted to sign off in style.

Atherstone from the start sat off from Droitwich applying the press from the half way line making it very difficult for the homeside to break the away side compact formation

Once Spa adapted to this style of play they began to move the ball around from the back and moving it from side to side. Andrew Rollason had the first chance of the match as he ghosted into the D and shot caught the post and rebounded to safety. Ashley Davies was next to go close with an effort well saved by the away keeper

Andrew Rollason continued to be a menace to Atherstone Left Back as he was able to beat him and drive to the byline and win free hits and long corners and setting up David Purchase for another effort saved

Atherstone resorted to using long balls from their 16 yard hit outs which found their strikers with regularity and created opportunities which Martyn Davies in the Spa goal was equal too.

After the turnaround Spa upped their game and were quicker to use the ball from free hits. Rollason drew a foot foul and the officials played the advantage, and he drove to the byline riding stick challenges before firing the ball across the circle which caused hesitation in the atherstone defence and some how David Purchase poked the ball home ver a prone keeper as he was off balance.
Droitwich second arrived after a free hit was given in midfield for a lifted ball, and Ashley Davies ran on to the through ball and flicked the ball over the advancing Atherstone keeper before landing in the goal.

Atherstone frustration began to grow as they tried to slow Spa pacey attacks and there left back was green carded following a cynical foot foul but Spa were not able to profit from the numerical advantage.

Spa adventure yielded a further goal as an attack down Spa left led to Nick Bates being left in the circle and he skilfully slid and tucked the ball under the advancing keeper with a reverse stick shot.

This was an excellent way to round off the first half of the season with a second clean sheet of the campaign with ruthlessness in front of goal and excellent running and finding space which optimised this win.

Droitwich Spa Hockey Club

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