FOLLOWING THE SALTMEN

Saltmen dismantled by The Smiths

Droitwich Spa 0-6 Slimbridge

19 August 2025

The British Board of Football Classification has rated this report as an 18 Certificate due to graphic depictions of horror.

As regular readers of this old tosh will know, FTS does not usually single players out for criticism. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, the highest level anyone at FTS Towers has ever played at was the Step 6 of its day. Secondly, Football is not the primary occupation of most players and third, media criticism is very rarely constructive. So we are not going to change our policy. However, collectively, it was almost a universally poor performance.

We should also give credit to the opposition. Slimbridge are clearly significantly better than the other sides Spa have played so far this season. Even if Andy Crowther had been able to field his strongest 11, this would still have been a very tough game. The Swans were strong throughout the side and in the Jack Smith brothers they have a potent strike force with Jack W outscoring his namesake by 3-1.

With at least seven first team regulars watching the game from the wrong side of the fence due to a freak collection of injuries, Crowth’s team selection must be more about plugging gaps than strategic choices. Whether the injuries are the result of rock hard playing surfaces following the dry summer or whether they are just an unfortunate coincidence, it places the same demands on a stretched squad. The loss of Jack Brighton and James Lemon only compound the situation. With two away games over the coming bank holidays weekend, things are not likely to get easier any time soon.

But, a side coming off a four game winning streak does not become poor overnight. We all have good days and bad in life as in sport. Let’s put this down as an aberration and move on. I mean, we don’t lose 6-0 every week. In fact I’m willing to bet this is Spa’s heaviest ever defeat. It’s certainly the worst scoreline since the return to Kingys.

There was some brightness coming from the dark. Perry Moss is starting to regain his match sharpness. Rohan Levy continues his development in the first team and we finished the game with eleven on the field, including the same goalkeeper who started the game.

Onwards and upwards as we travel to Highworth on Saturday. Hope you can get there too to raise the lads’ spirits.

See you there.

Cheers

FTS