The Saltmen suffered a narrow single goal defeat to Roman Glass in their first league match without the guidance of Andy Crowther.
Around 50 or 60 Spa fans made the trip to North Bristol for this game, keen to see how the personnel changes of the summer would affect the Saltmen’s on-field potential. Some supporters were more optimistic than others. The first 45 minutes of today’s game will certainly have settled some of the pessimism, although the second might have just tweaked some worries back to life
It was certainly an eventful afternoon’s entertainment and it started very well. Spa took the game to The Glass right from the off. They kept a good shape, won lots of ball and looked dangerous going forward. Had it not been for some slightly rusty finishing Spa could have gone in at half-time, two or three goals up after James Lemon hit the post and Perry Moss forced the Glass keeper into a great save to prevent the mercurial Spa star opening his 26/27 account.
And let’s not forget, this was against one of the Hellenic League’s strongest clubs. Away from home, as well.
After the break, the game plan appeared to have changed. The lads lined up much deeper at the back. There were occasions when you could have thrown a blanket on the field and covered the whole team, they were so compressed. I’m not sure whether this was a deliberate part of the game plan or just a response to their opponents upping their game but it made for some uncomfortable moments.
With the home side keen to take all three points, it was all hands on deck. Some weak refereeing allowed what had been a decent contest to descend in to an increasingly bad tempered affair. Lem had been booked earlier in the game, presumably for retaliating to being elbowed in the face long after the ball had gone. Nathan Binner saw red for a two-footed challenge and was subsequently assaulted by at least one Glass player. This sparked a brawl but no action was taken against the Glass players. Perhaps the officials had used up their ration of retaliation punishments!
A rare slip from Spa keeper Dom Rogerson resulted in the game’s only goal, a tap in for Plummer.
New Gaffer Quentin Townsend rang the changes. We assume the club’s top goalscorer for two consecutive seasons had picked up a knock or run out of steam as he was replaced for the last quarter of the game. There was a great deal of effort and energy expended chasing an equaliser but The Saltmen were unable to create a clear cut opportunity.
Another brawl erupted at the final whistle and Quent, who was not involved in the fracas, was shown a red card. I don’t know why. Perhaps he asked whether the Ref had enjoyed his first ever experience of football.
Nobody seemed particularly interested in paying £4 for a can which can be purchased for just over a quid at the supermarket, so we made our way to the car park mulling over what could have been.
On a different day, with a semi-competent team of match officials, Spa may well have taken at least a point back up the M5. There were certainly plenty of positive signs.
The much coveted FTS Man of the Match goes to Rohan Levy for a towering performance in the heart of the Spa defence.
Next up, the home opener against Cinderford on Tuesday evening. Both sides will be keen to pick up their first points of the season so a good encounter can be expected.
See you there.
Cheers
FTS
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