FOLLOWING THE SALTMEN

Match Report

Hellenic League, Premier Division

25 August 2025

What a difference six days makes. From plumbing the depths of despair to grabbing a pair against the Plums. It’s been a hell of week following the Saltmen!

Leaving aside the fact that three games in six games during August is absolute madness, Spa have been the victim of a terrible run of luck with injuries. Hang on…..let’s not leave that aside! It will be no surprise to learn there are no qualified medical professionals on the staff here at FTS but the two things could be linked. In the space of 28 days, The Saltmen have played 8 league games (and another game in the FA Cup). A 20 team division, like the Hellenic Premier, requires all clubs to play 38 league. Spa have already played 21% of their league games and we are still in August! Shirley the games could be spread out more evenly especially when they are currently being played on bone-breakingly hard surfaces and sometimes in very hot conditions. I would hazard a guess that there is a correlation between such playing conditions and the attritional rate of injuries the lads are picking up.

Anyway, it was FTS’s turn to drive as Len drove to Highworth. After driving around mid Worcestershire for hours we finally found a parking space about half a mile from the ground. It was Plum Fest in Pershore and the town was full of Plum aficionados or “stoners” as they know themselves. However, the bright lights and glamour of the festival were not why we were in Pershore. We had an appointment with some other Plums, the town’ football team.

In temperatures approaching the highest of the year both sides started positively. A decent Josh Hurdman effort introduced Cuneen in the Plums’ goal to the game. He was not unduly troubled.

On 18 minutes, Town’s Raheem Spencer looked to have been put through on goal but Spa keeper Dom Rogerson was alert to the danger and gathered the ball. In the blink of an eye the ball was worked forward and Josh Hurdman was put clear. This time it was Cuneen who was quick to react and got a strong hand on the ball just as Josh looked to have rounded him.

Five minutes later the Goalscorers’ Goalscorer, Alex Dugmore, was judged to have been tripped in the Plum box (Sounds painful – Ed) and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. High drama then ensued as the linesman indicated his disagreement and the invertebrate in the middle changed his mind, awarding Pershore a free kick. In our helpful way, FTS offered some words of encouragement and advice to the offals.

But the Saltmen were not too discouraged and after both sides exchanged a couple of speculative shots at goal Cuneen needed to be at his best to turn a goal-bound effort from the GOAT around the post.

With five minutes of the first half remaining the game’s real highlight arrived. With Spa stretching the Plums, Perry Moss picked up the ball on the left side, impudently beat his man, once, then twice before crossing perfectly to find Charlie Tilley unmarked at the back post and the indefatigable man from Spa’s engine room tucked his header away with ease.

The Saltmen were now rampant with wave after wave of incisive raids into Pershore territory. Only two minutes after fashioning the opener, Pez was close to doubling the lead. With all the empathy of Vlad the Impaler, Moss teased the Town full back, pulling him one way then the other before unleashing a curling, dipping effort which had it been 2 inches lower would have been the sort of goal to make the new cast of MOTD drool all the way to their Swiss bank accounts. Sadly, it hit the bar and bounced over.

Next up, goalscorer Tilley’s effort was hit with pace but really only troubled the car park attendant, slumbering in the late summer sun behind Town’s neat new fence.

With the first half almost complete Droitwich issued what would turn out to be the coup de Grace. It was a goal created by Alex Dugmore although he didn’t actually touch the ball. Having spent 45 minutes busting a gut flicking headers on for teammates who were not there, Duggers suggested to Josh Hurdman to pick up the flick from the set piece just awarded to the Saltmen. Sure enough, the ball came in, the GOAT went up and the ball ended up with Josh who smashed the ball past the helpless Cuneen. The teams returned to the changing rooms for their plum halves and Horlicks with Spa two goals up.

At the break, Droitwich full back Curtis Smith was replaced by Rohan Levy. Curtis had enjoyed an excellent first 45 minutes, combining strong defensive work with the ability to bring the ball forward, linking with the midfield very effectively. We hope he didn’t pick up a nasty knock and will return very soon.

I’ve already written far too much to retain any lingering interest you dear readers might still have. So I’ll keep the details of the second half brief.

It was pretty much all Droitwich. Cuneen made two or three top drawer saves to thwart Spa, while Dom Rogerson might just as well have had a kip in the car park. As you probably gathered, the second half was goalless. Entertaining but goalless.

The win lifts the Saltmen up to second in the table, albeit having played more games than the teams around them. After the uncharacteristic defeat last Tuesday it looks like the boys have turned the ship around.

The FTS Man of the Match award goes to Josh Hurdman. He was a constant threat to Pershore and had the wisdom to listen to the man, the myth and the legend that is Alex Dugmore, who came close to winning the award himself. To be fair, I could have given the award to just about any of the players who all had great games. Obviously, Cory Rudd is now out of the running for MOTM as I can’t spell his name right.

Hallen at Kingys on Saturday is the next instalment.

See you there!

Cheers

FTS

Eat More Plums…in pies, of course.