FOLLOWING THE SALTMEN

Droitwich Spa 5-2 Fairford Town

Challenge Cup Quarter Final

24 February 2026

Attendance – 137

It’s getting very fashionable these days to be stripped of your title. And you don’t need to be friends with a billionaire sex trafficker – although I understand it helps speed the process up.

The latest thing to lose its title, or at least part of it, is the Cup formerly known as Marsh. These days it’s just the ‘bog’ standard Challenge Cup. Ironic really given the amount of rain we’ve had over recent weeks. I should make it clear there is no suggestion the Cup has ever been to a tropical island or been party to trophycking of any kind.

The Challenge Cup remains the one they all want to win. Forget the FAV or the FAT, the pinnacle of non-league success remains TTFKATMCC. Sadly for them, most clubs are ineligible for participation in the competition so we here at FTS feel blessed just to witness it.

And, luckily for us we now get to enjoy the semi-final, away at Slimbridge next Saturday. That’s pretty impressive given that the Saltmen have already been knocked out once. That must be what they mean when they talk about the magic of the cup.

It also has a lot to do with some of the best football Spa have played all season. While the final scoreline may flatter the Saltmen a little, they were well worth the win. Two unanswered first half goals gave Spa a lead their dominance of the opening 45 minutes deserved. Central midfield pair Cory Rudd and Charlie Tilley were imperious in the centre of the park, winning important challenges and picking up way more than their fair share of loose or 50/50 ball. A refreshed Perry Moss was a thorn in the side of the visitors and Skipper James Lemon had his best game since the retirement of his long-standing partner in crime, Connor Collins. Lem was everywhere, making such a nuisance of himself that at one point he drew three consecutive free kicks in little more than a minute. Spa opened the scoring on 26 minutes when James Baldwin managed to get ahead of his marker and guide his headed effort perfectly past the Arrows’ keeper. Six minutes later the lead was doubled following a passage of play which may go down as the best move of the match ending with Lemon’s cheeky final ball to Charlie Tilley whose powerful first time finish was emphatic.

The second half opened with more of the same and within 5 minutes of the restart, Droitwich had extended the lead to three as that man Tilley met a near post cross and planted his header in the Fairford goal.

The visitors were in no mood to sit back and let Spa have it all their way. Just before the hour mark an awkward ball in the Spa box was inadvertently turned home by Lewis Phillips and the visitors had their first of the evening

The Red Arrows sensed blood and were unlucky not to have cut the deficit further when last ditch defending cleared the ball off the Droitwich line. With Spa very much on the back foot the second Fairford goal arrived in the 69th minute when a deep cross was met by the head of Chris Zebrowski the further narrow the deficit.

Some of us in the crowd were starting to get a bit nervy but we needn’t have worried. Spa Manager Andy Crowther introduced goal scoring hero Alex Dugmore who was making his comeback after a nasty looking injury sustained in the away game at Corsham. Duggers promptly did what Duggers does best. Perry Moss showed all his tenacity as he carried the ball wide on the right riding half a dozen tackles before picking Dugmore out with a perfect cross into the box and the lead was back to two.

Clearly enjoying his return, Dugmore secured his own double deep into injury time, carrying the ball into the box before beating the advancing goalkeeper.

An excellent all round performance from the Saltmen. Everyone contributed but our Man of the Match award goes to James Lemon who led by example and took the game to Fairford at every opportunity.

Spa return to league action on Saturday when they welcome Cirencester to Kingys.

See you there

FTS