FOLLOWING THE SALTMEN

Bewdley Town 1 – 6 Droitwich Spa

Pre-season Game. Ribbesford Meadow, Saturday 19 July 2025

There can be few better places in the country to watch two teams prepare for a new season than Ribbesford Meadow. On the banks of the River Severn, ambling lazily south into central Worcestershire, the Saltmen faced a Bewdley Town side who they have already played three times in the last 18 months.

It has already been a tumultuous week for our friends in Bewdley following the rare birth of baby red pandas at the West Midlands Safari Park. A pre-season game was never likely to rival this news but we arrived at the ground hoping for an entertaining afternoon.

The hosts started the game strongly, pinning Spa back in their own half but were unable to trouble Dom Rogerson in the Droitwich goal. Gradually, the visitors found their feet and grew in confidence, matching Bewdley’s energy and endeavour but the most notable incident in a goalless first 45 minutes came with an impromptu bout of wrestling between Spa skipper James Lemon and the Riversiders’ number 6. The officials restored order and both players were shown the yellow card.

In accordance with pre-season law, both sides rang the changes during the half time break. The introduction of Cory Rudd and Charlie Tilley as the midfield spine, gave Spa the edge in the centre of the park and that was telling. The deadlock was broken on 47 minutes as Alex Dugmore turned an accurate cross into the home goal. With Town now chasing the game, play opened up and the Saltmen took control. Within five more minutes Josh Hurdman was felled in the box while rounding the Bewdley keeper and the referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot. Despite the Spa faithful baying for Jay Sauntson to take the kick, his fellow centre back, Ben Tilbury calmly converted the kick to reinforce the lead.

At this point it became the Hurdman Show. Following his introduction to the game, Joe Hurdman matched elder brother Josh in endangering Bewdley’s rear guard. Both grabbed a brace as Spa stretched the game. The pick of the bunch would have to be the first of Josh’s goals. Collecting the ball deftly and with one movement splitting the Town back four, then powering an unstoppable strike home this was comfortably the goal of the game. That rarest of treasures, a Josh Hurdman headed goal, followed some tenacious work from Joe who provided a great cross into the box met perfectly by big bro. Not to be outdone, Joe found the scoresheet twice to crown an impressive second half performance. His hard work, mazy runs and neat finishing were a constant danger to the home side.

The afternoon’s scoring was completed in the last minute. Town’s Alec Price received the ball about 20 yards out and his impressive angled strike flew unerringly into the Spa goal.

Impressive performances all round, including two trialists. Had he played for the full 90 minutes there’s a good chance that today’s Following The Saltmen Man of the Match Award would have gone to Lewis Phillips but alas he only played for 45. The award therefore goes to a very deserving Rohan Levy. Impressive at both centre back and later at left back, Rohan put in a great shift, his aerial prowess extinguishing a number of threatening Bewdley advances and he still found time to make some dangerous surges forward.

Next up a trip to the old stamping ground when the Saltmen travel to Walshes Meadow on Tuesday evening to play the Stourport Swifts in the last pre-season fixture before the serious business starts.

See you there.

Cheers

Steve