Droitwich Spa dropped their first points of the 2024-25 season at Kingy's on Saturday as Stonehouse Town walked away with a 1-3 victory, also ending an unbeaten start to the campaign for the Saltmen which extended to 15 games.

Without Jay Sauntson, Matt Williams and Cory Rudd, it was a scrappy first half that Droitwich shaded with home stopper Dom Rogerson untroubled throughout, however neither opposite number Will Pendrick was seriously tested as the two sides cancelled each other out with the defences on top.

The only efforts of note being from Josh Hurdman (13 minutes), Pendrick holding a tame effort comfortably, and Alex Dugmore's stinging strike which the visiting keeper spilled before Perry Moss fired wide.
The Spa winger was denied an almost certain goal but for a last ditch block from Ryan Thwaite diverting the shot wide.

The home support were off their feet in protest as the referee's assistant flagged Dugmore for offside on 30 minutes, as he sprinted passed the Town defence and was through on goal.
The decision was also protested by the League's leading scorer who was given a yellow card and sin-binned for his reaction, however Droitwich saw out the remainder of the half comfortably.

Droitwich started the second period well and Jack Brighton's deep cross found Moss, whose bicycle kick went just off target.

Then on 57 minutes, with their first attempt on goal, the Magpies opened the scoring with a goal of the season contender as Spencer Martin picked the ball up on the halfway line, some hesitant defending allowed him into an optimistic shooting position 35 yards out, he saw Rogerson off his line and hit an effort over the 'keeper and under the crossbar.

The hosts looked shell-shocked and with Town's tails up, Richard Thwaite's cross/shot from a free kick evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the net 4 minutes later for 0-2.

Worse was to come for Andy Crowther's side in a nightmare 10-minute spell - first Rogerson produced a fine save to push a thunderous header over the bar, and on 67 minutes Spencer Martin netted a brace with a close range finish to put the game almost out of sight.

It could have got even worse but Rogerson was on hand to deny Nick Humphreys, but Spa went straight back up the other end to reduce the deficit as Moss picked up the ball in the area to slot neatly past Pendrick.

A very well organised Stonehouse defence denied Spa's direct approach as they won most aerial battles and second balls, the only real chance created fell to substitute James Lemon, who headed over from a good position, and Droitwich's frustrations reached boiling point when Dugmore received a second yellow card for bundling into Richard Thwaite as he tried to block the Spa striker from getting to a ball collected by Pendrick.

A second melee of the afternoon ensued and with Spa reduced to 10-men, Town saw out the last 5 minutes with just a Moss free kick to worry about, which sailed over the bar.

A performance and result that Droitwich will want to forget quickly as they turn attentions to an Isuzu FA Vase 3rd round tie at Abbey Hulton United this coming Saturday (ko 3pm), where the Saltmen will want to bounce back immediately to reach the last 32 for the first time in the clubs' history.