DROITWICH Spa reached the third round of the FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history following an impressive 3-1 victory at higher-division Ashby Ivanhoe.
The Saltmen exacted revenge on Ashby following their play-off final defeat against the same opponents at the end of the 2022/23 campaign as Charlie Tilley netted a brace after Perry Moss’s first-minute goal opened the scoring at NFU Sports Ground.
After their historic victory, Spa are in the hat for the third round draw which takes place at 1pm on Monday, November 11.
Andy Crowther’s side made the perfect start when Moss tapped home into an empty net from close range after Ashby goalkeeper Brad Catlow failed to make a routine catch from Josh Hurdman’s cross inside the first 20 seconds.
Ashby, who play one level above Spa, went close at the other end as Dom Rogerson kept out Chris Acott’s towering header at the near post before Ashley Garner headed over.
The teams continued to trade chances as Nathan Binner’s free-kick shaved the top of the crossbar while both Will Groocock and Oliver Bradshaw failed to capitalise when well-placed for the hosts.
Spa lost captain Jay Sauntson to injury midway through the first half only for the visitors to double their lead on 41 minutes as Tilley tapped home after Hurdman headed Lewis Phillips’s deep ball back across goal.
And Tilley stretched Spa’s lead just two minutes later with another close-range finish from Moss’s low cross to cap a stunning first-half performance from the visitors.
Ashby looked to respond before the interval as Sam Grouse and Jake Brown both went close but Spa held firm to take a commanding three-goal lead into the break.
The home side eventually reduced the deficit on 52 minutes when Brown followed up Grouse’s initial effort which hit the post and finished from close range.
Saltmen defender Sam Carey made a heroic block later in the half to deny Ashby a second goal before Moss beat the offside trap and raced through at the other end only to shoot wide when off balance.
A goalline clearance from Matt Williams kept Spa’s two-goal lead intact while Alex Dugmore fired over and Catlow saved Matt Fusco’s effort from 25-yards out as the Saltmen looked to put the game to bed.
Rogerson produced a remarkable one-handed save with two minutes left to play as he somehow tipped a stinging effort from close range over the crossbar.
However, Spa saw out seven minutes of injury time to seal a historic victory and book their place in the third round of the competition.
Droitwich are next in action against Chipping Sodbury Town on Saturday, November 16 with kick-off at 3pm at the King George Playing Fields.
