DROITWICH Spa went top with their third consecutive win in West Midlands Football League Division One.

They beat Gornal Athletic 4-1 at Stourport’s Walshes Meadow but were made to work hard for all three points.

Spa opened the scoring on seven minutes when new signing Ben Tilbury finished well from the edge of the box following Graeme Pardoe’s through-ball.

Attacking midfielder Tilbury, recruited on dual-registration from Alvechurch, linked up play well as James Lemon, Haydn Morris and Jack Allerton all had half-chances.

But Gornal grew into the game and Ben Store levelled on 25 minutes after a defensive mix-up between Andy Crowther and Mike Seeley.

Spa’s Curtis Townley blazed a penalty over seven minutes later after Tilbury was fouled in the box before Gornal’s Joe Kirkby hit his own post from Brad Burgess' centre.

The hosts went ahead before half-time when Burgess fired home a low shot past keeper Ashley Green after ex-Wolverhampton Casuals player Tilbury’s flicked through-ball.

Burgess was denied by the woodwork early on before Gornal bossed much of the second half.

But Lemon stroked in Burgess’ cross to make it three for Spa on 89 minutes.

Morris drove home powerfully in injury-time to complete the scoring following more good work by Burgess.

Joint Spa managers Mark Owen and Wayne Oliver take their charges to sixth-placed Shropshire outfit Allscott AFC on Saturday (3pm).