Hellenic League, Premier Division
Monday 31st August 2026
Attendance: 206
Matchday Teamsheet
It’s fair to say that following the Saltmen during July and August has, at times, been hard work. Not hard work like that done by the Soviet coal miners who worked in almost impossible conditions to dig under the damaged nuclear reactor at Chernobyl to prevent a meltdown. Not hard work like that done in factories, steelworks, on North Sea trawlers either. It’s not even as hard as being a bouncer trying to prevent England cricketers entering a pub. Nevertheless, events over the summer have resulted in a period of transition which was always likely to take a while to settle. We may now be seeing signs that things are starting to fall into place.
There have been glimpses in previous games at Roman Glass, Dudley and Hanley but this bank holiday goal-fest provided 90 minutes of near dominance over local rivals and plenty for Salt Nation to cheer about. And it didn’t take long for Spa to stamp their authority on the game when after 11 minutes the outstanding Nathan Binner curled a free kick into the top corner giving Charlie McNamara in the Stourport goal no chance. Two minutes later, Perry Moss doubled Spa’s advantage. The Swifts cut the deficit on 22 minutes when Bruce Minaker took advantage of a defensive slip, lobbing the ball over the advancing Dom Rogerson. Its didn’t take long for Spa to restore a two goal lead. An inch perfect Haydn Morris pass sent James Lemon in behind the visitors’ back four and the Spa skipper calmly slotted the ball home from 15 yards. There was still time for Spa to hit the woodwork twice before going into half time with the 3-1 lead.
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The visitors started the second half the brighter of the two sides and on 56 minutes a speculative shot from Dan Cox managed to evade Rogerson’s grasp to reduce the gap the just one goal. Stung into action, the Saltmen hit back within 60 seconds. Nathan Binner’s left sided corner was flighted beautifully, arcing over McNamara and under the Swifts’ crossbar. Matchday MC Dan Doubledecks initially credited the goal to Sir Alex Dugmore but the ball had entered the goal unaided and credit given to Binner.
At times, this season, it looked a lot like Spa talisman Duggers must have been opening umbrellas indoors while smashing the stock at Mirrors R Us with a club made from four-leaved clovers, such has been his luck in front of goal. The hoodoo was put to bed on 71 minutes when Sir Alex scored the most Duggers-like goal it is possible to imagine. The man who is never scared to put his head where others would not dare, rose to meet a cross from the left just ahead of McNamara. The powerful header hit the target but not before Duggers was innocently caught by the keeper’s fist, fully on the left cheekbone. The prolific number nine left the field clutching an ice pack to protect the looks of a man, tipped by many to replace Daniel Craig as the new James Bond. The score was 5-2 in Spa’s favour.
Assistant Manager Mark Owen introduced replacements to freshen up a side who played floor an hour with just ten players against Hey!worth 48 hours earlier. Gaffer Quentin Townshend was serving part of a two match ban for his sending off at Roman Glass and, in accordance with the rules, was not at the game against one of his previous clubs. If he had been at the game, he would have seen the Spa tally rise to six in the 83rd minute when Sam Carey was the first to react to a partially defended cross, tidily converting the second ball at the far post.
The scoring was completed on 89 minutes by new signing Hubert Zatorski who confidently guided an excellent Archie Thurston cross past the luckless McNamara with what may well have been the new man’s first touch of the ball.
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PIE FACT:
In 1999, Greggs rebranded its Thurston chain as Greggs of Yorkshire.
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There were excellent performances throughout the Spa side. There are special mentions for Curtis Smith, Lewis Phillips, Haydn Morris and Sir Alex Dugmore but the much coveted Following The Saltmen Man of The Match award goes to our favourite Glass smasher, Nathan ‘Bad Boy’ Binner who put in a match winning performance despite having to live next door to our travelling partner Don Judley.
Next up, it’s Corsham away on Saturday. A bus has been arranged with a limited number of spaces available for supporters at £15 each.
See you there.
Cheers
FTS
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