DROITWICH Spa were officially crowned Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One champions on Saturday after a 5-0 demolition job of mid-table Tytherington Rocks at the King George Playing Fields.
An impressive 600 spectators watched on during a carnival atmosphere as the Saltmen took to the field.
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Droitwich started nervously on a difficult surface but took the lead on 19 minutes, with their first meaningful effort. Nathan Binner latched onto a through-ball, rounded Rocks goalkeeper Peter Dykes and tucked the ball away into the far corner from a tight angle. After a scare from the visitors when George Box fired wide, Lewis Phillips found himself one-on-one with Dykes, but his shot was well saved by the legs of the onrushing ‘keeper.
Alex Dugmore thought he had doubled Spa’s lead after heading in a pinpoint cross from Hurdman, but the referee spotted an infringement and the effort was disallowed.
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Spa kept probing until the half-time whistle but the game remained at 1-0.
The Saltmen started the second half well, and on 55 minutes Josh Hurdman was brought down in the penalty area. Captain James Lemon stepped up to convert the spot-kick, and from then on it was one-way traffic.
Dykes saved well to deny Binner his second from a free-kick. Then Jay Sauntson’s header at the back post went just wide.
It was 3-0 on 70 minutes when top scorer Alex Dugmore added to his tally in style. He broke the offside trap and chipped the ball over Dykes as he raced off his line. It secured Dugmore’s title as Division One golden boot winner with 30 league goals in the regular season, and 36 overall in 38 appearances.
Ten minutes later Dugmore was denied by a great save from Dykes. However, Phillips tapped home the rebound from close range for his first Saltmen goal of the season after 41 appearances. It was also his first Spa goal since 2020, to make it 4-0.
Substitute Perry Moss headed just wide after good work from Dugmore before Josh Hurdman rounded off the scoring to cap a 5-0 win. It meant the Saltmen ended the season 11 points clear at the top of the table.
Standing ovation
The players were applauded off the pitch by the partisan crowd before returning to receive the end-of-season club awards.
League winners medals were then presented and the Saltmen got to lift the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One trophy. A historic moment on a day that will live long in the memory for everyone connected with the club.
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