All Over!

Droitwich Spa 5 – 0 Tytherington Rocks

Hellenic league Division One

12 April 2025

That’s it. A momentous season is done.

The Saltmen wrapped up their 2024-2025 campaign in a game which could be seen as a microcosm of their season in 90 minute form. Strong and composed at the back; a core of iron through the middle and, at times, devastating up front. That’s not to say they were untroubled by a Tytherington side who probably would have preferred not to have been involved in the afternoon’s festivities. But hats off to the men from the delightful, if a bit pricey, Cotswold village. They made Spa work hard for their win and Dom Rogerson in the Spa goal had probably his busiest shift of the past few weeks. The Rocks defended stoically in the face of waves of attacks from the Droitwich men. It took a moment of individual excellence to break the deadlock. Presented with the ball about 12 yards out, Nathan Binner advanced on goal. Binner cunningly rounded Peter Dykes like fox in the Rocks box. Unfortunately, in doing so, he took the ball too close to the goal line to get a shot away…or so we thought! Seeing that none of his teammates was in a scoring position, he deftly stroked there ball home from the tightest of angles. The Saltmen had a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the season.

The middle third of the game was frustrating for our heroes. Alex Dugmore was denied a goal when his pinpoint header from a pinpoint Josh Hurdman cross was inexplicably ruled out for no pinpoint reason. The sides went for their half time cup of tea with the score still 1-0 to the hosts.

Spa kept the pressure on after the restart but had to wait until there 55th minute to add to their tally. The constantly dangerous Josh Hurdman was scythed down in the visitors’ penalty area by a grown man wearing an Alice band and the refereee pointed to the spot. I suspect the penalty award was for the foul but the miscreant’s subsequent booking was almost certainly headwear related. It’s good that the authorities are finally cracking down on this Ginola-esque criminality. The dubious practice of cutting holes out of the back of perfectly good socks is next under the spotlight. Anyway, club stalwart and skipper James Lemon sent Dykes the wrong way and it was 2-0.

Fifteen minutes later the unstoppable Alex Dugmore stopped being stopped by the Tytherington stopper. Now a shoe-in for Thomas Tuchel’s next England squad, the Spa man beat the offside trap before lobbing the advancing Dykes, to make it three for the Saltmen.

The fourth goal came on 80 minutes. A pile driver from Dugmore brought a fine save from Dykes but the rebound fell kindly for Lewis Phillips. It is probably fair to say that the Spa left back has not been a prolific scorer during his time at Kingys; but, perhaps spurred on by defensive colleague Jay Sauntson’s deadly finish at Stonehouse a couple of weeks ago, the ever dependable full back confidently notched his second goal for the club.

The final goal of the season was claimed by Josh Hurdman. One third of the only triple interchangeable headed football action figure (coming soon to all good toy shops, probably) had been a thorn in the collective Rocks’ side all afternoon. In an “anything you can do” moment the talented wide man emulated the Duggers goal with an identikit lob over the luckless Tytherington keeper.

It was good to see Matt Jackson make a cameo appearance after a long injury layoff. It was also nice that Perry Moss was introduced as well. Pez has played a massive part in the club’s success and it may be the last we see of the mercurial maestro in a Spa shirt for some time as he sets out on his travels. Bon voyage Perry, a bientot!

The Following the Saltmen man of the match award goes to Nathan Binner. An outstanding display from the Saltmen’s Mr Consistent.

The Club handed out awards to the players and coaching staff before being presented with the Division One winner’s trophy and much merriment ensued. In fact, there was so much merriment that the club bar was drunk dry.

An incredible and much deserved day for all connected with the club, played out in front of 542 – the league’s highest crowd of the season.

I’m not sure what I will do with the next 10 or so Saturdays. And Tuesdays. And Thursdays – until the pre-season friendlies start. But I will be around, posting random thoughts and nonsense.

Hope you all have great summers and I’ll see you at Kingy’s soon.

Cheers

Steve