Hellenic League Premier Division

03 October 2026

Attendance: 155

A strong second half performance from the Saltmen secured three important points as they continued their ascent up the league table.

It is probably no surprise that Droitwich were a little bit off the pace in the first half of this early season six-pointer, given the massive effort expended on Tuesday evening at Thornbury. A number of uncharacteristic errors in the first period must surely have been the result of tired limbs. Spa enjoyed plenty of possession and looked dangerous out wide. Unfortunately, things would not gel and except for a smart save from Vics’ keeper Harry Pickering to keep out a strongly struck Perry Moss volley, there was little in the way of clear cut chances for the men in black and red. In fact, the visitors could well have taken a lead into half time but for a poor finish from close range by a player I won’t name to spare his blushes.

Whatever was said in the Spa dressing room at half-time, it did the trick. Spa looked a different side as the second half started. They looked a lot sharper and as the half progressed, started to make inroads into the Malmesbury defence. Pickering made a series of excellent saves to keep his side in the game but the breakthrough came on 54 minutes as James Lemon turned the ball home from six yards, finally breaking Pickering’s belligerent performance.

The lead was short lived. Within 5 minutes the Vics were level as George Evatt turned home a deep cross. However, Spa are now displaying a stubborn streak. Up stepped the youth section. George Dalton is settling into the side very well and the pacy wide-man restored the Spa lead after 63 minutes, turning and placing his shot past the helpless Pickering. The game was effectively put to bed on 82 minutes. Sixteen year old Edward Bridge had replaced a slightly older James Lemon and he found himself the recipient of some great work by Alex Dugmore. The Spa legend pinched the ball from the Vics full back, and from the goal line picked out Bridge perfectly whose calm, clinical finish from 8 yards gave him a deserved first goal in senior football.

The scoring was completed in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Sam Carey headed home from a corner to extend his now three game streak of scoring in home games!

An impressive 45 minutes lifts the Saltmen to 16th position in the league table.

The much coveted FTS Man of the Match Award goes to Sam Carey after a solid game at the back and also grabbing that goal.

Next up lnkberrow away in the County Cup on Tuesday evening

See you there,

Cheers

FTS