FOLLOWING THE SALTMEN

Hellenic League Premier Division

20 September 2025.

Attendance: 196

….You make Lemon-aid!

It is probably fair to say that the last couple of years have not gone exactly how club skipper James Lemon might have hoped. A number of fairly lengthy injury breaks have restricted his number of starts. When fit, the man who many consider one of the best strikers to have worn the red and black shirt, has been played wide on the left. Not his usual hunting ground. But you never get less than 100% from Lem and his perseverance has paid dividends with his return to goalscoring form.

However, today’s impressive win over table topping Roman Glass St George was far from a one man show. The visitors are clearly an accomplished side with some very capable players, so today’s game needed everyone firing on all cylinders. And fire they did.

Right out of the traps, it was evident the Saltmen were up for the challenge. The more conventional underfoot conditions might be a factor. At times this season the bone hard, bouncing pitches have made Spa’s attempts to play good football almost impossible. Today, Droitwich picked up more loose ball during 90 minutes than in the whole of season so far. Everyone contributed to the cause and Spa looked confident as the midfield engine room dominated for long periods of the first half. The Glass had their chances and came close to opening the scoring on 10 minutes as a well worked corner was close to being converted by Ward whose header can have been only inches away from the target.

The opener did arrive on 16 minutes. A deft flick from the omnipresent Charlie Tilley set up James Lemon whose powerful 12 yard shot gave Glass keeper Brown no chance. But this was only a taster for what happened 4 minutes later. Lem received the ball just inside the Glass half and noticed Brown was some distance from his goal line. In a brilliant feat of improvisation he went for goal. His clean strike had Brown back pedalling but the Glass keeper was unable to keep the ball out and the Saltmen doubled their advantage.

On the half hour Lem was at the centre of the action. Some hysterical overacting from his challenge on Brown resulted in the traditional handbags at 20 paces routines. When play resumed, Perry Moss twisted and turned and made a right pane of himself but his 41 minutes strike was straight at Brown. Then on the stroke of half time Reiss Taylor-Randle collected a ball over the Glass defence and clinically chipped Brown to make it 3-0 at the break.

When play resumed, the visitors took the game to Spa but a mixture of good defensive work, a couple of goal line clearances and some tidy goalkeeping from Dom Rogerson kept them at bay until the 51st minute when The Saltmen gifted Louis Ward a free header from a corner and the lead was cut to 3-1.

Spa boss Andy Crowther took the opportunity make changes. Alex Dugmore replaced a shattered looking Perry Moss and within minutes the goal machine had the ball in the net only to see it ruled out for an infringement. In classic Crowther style, Jack Davies was introduced to replace Lemon, who must have been chuffed to bits to be deprived of a hat trick opportunity!

The points were made safe on 73 minutes. With the Glass still chasing the game, Droitwich centre back Ben Tilbury made a goal line clearance. Excellent work from Reiss Taylor-Randle saw Spa break with pace and accuracy. Nathan Binner’s goalbound effort was parried by Brown but only as far Sir Alex, and the Kingys legend Dugmore smashed it home to make the score 4-1.

The visiting Bristolians continued in their efforts to reduce the arrears but to no avail. The officials brought the 90 damp minutes to a close and the previously unbeaten Glass had been cracked. The football gods [Not a real thing – Ed] showed their pleasure by making the sun shine on the righteous.

This was comfortably the best Spa performance so far this season and every player made a significant contribution to the outcome. There were at least half a dozen candidates for Following the Saltmen Man of the Match but the honour they all want goes to a smashing performance from the resurgent club captain, James Lemon.

The result leaves the Saltmen level on points with today’s visitors, trailing only by goal difference.

Next up Spa will look to take their good form to Lydney next Saturday.

See you there.

Cheers

FTS