The Saltmen kept up their perfect start to the 2024-25 campaign with a convincing 4-1 win over Wantage Town to make it 7 straight wins in all competitions, and 6 wins out of 6 in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1, taking Andy Crowthers' men 6 points clear at the top of the table at this early stage.

The visitors Wantage came into the game on the back of 3 consecutive defeats, and offered little in the way of attacking threat throughout, however were well organised at the back.

Droitwich controlled the first half and 'keeper Dom Rogerson wasn't called into action once.

At the other end, Alex Dugmore had the first effort of the afternoon on 12 minutes but Tom Rees saved comfortably before Perry Moss struck a free kick from the edge of the box just wide of the target.

Spa took the lead on 25 minutes as the ball was worked across the visitors' area, Charlie Tilley found the run of Dugmore with a chipped through ball and the Saltmen's top scorer produced an emphatic finish to break the deadlock.

It was all Droitwich after the goal and Rees had to be alert to deny both Dugmore and Perry Moss, before the formers' goal-bound header from a Nathan Binner corner was deflected over the crossbar.

There could have been a turning point in the game with 8 minutes of the first half remaining when Captain James Lemon and Wantage's Josh Dopson slid in for the same ball. The Spa Captain's legs were higher and the match official gave Lemon a straight red card after some deliberation, however he hobbled off the pitch and had to be taken to hospital for treatment. Thankfully Dopson was able to continue.

Despite the away sides' numerical advantage, it was the hosts who scored the next goal on 42 minutes when a clever free kick to the near post by Binner culminated in a simple close range finish for Cory Rudd for his 2nd goal of the season to give 10-man Spa a 2-0 advantage at half time.

The Saltmen also started the second half on the front foot as Perry Moss hit an effort just over the bar before Alex Dugmore made it 3-0 with his 12th goal of the season in just 7 games when he headed home from a Binner corner on 50 minutes.

The visitors has their first chance of the game when Jamie Sauntson allowed a long ball to drop past him for Lewis Reeve to run on to, but Rogerson was alert to rush out and smother the Freds wingers' effort as Town started to become more threatening.

Alex Dugmore was millimetres away from completing a hat-trick moments later as he hit the post from a tight angle before Barringer cleared off the line.

Rogerson then saved well from Reeve but on 58 minutes the lively substitute Freddie Morlock weaved his way through the Spa defence to finish well into the bottom corner and it looked to be game on.

Sauntson and Rudd then came close for Spa, but Wantage were handed a lifeline as Lewis Phillips was adjudged to have fouled in the area. Another substitute Charles Knight stepped up for the spot kick but he hit the post and Droitwich maintained their 2-goal advantage.

The penalty miss seemed to knock the wind out of the Freds' sails, and on 70 minutes Josh Hurdman won a penalty for Droitwich after a push in the back. Nathan Binner, with two assists under his belt on the day and 5 goals for the season, stepped up and fired a powerful low penalty into the corner, but Rees guessed correctly and produced a brilliant save to deny him and ensure the scores remained at 3-1.

The visiting 'keeper produced two more excellent stops as Hurdman then Binner went for goal, but Josh Hurdman wrapped the game up 10-minutes from time as he turned his man inside the box before beating Rees at his near post to cap a fine win in an entertaining game of football.

On Saturday (ko 3pm) Droitwich are at home again when they meet 2nd placed Bewdley Town in an early season top of the table clash and Worcestershire derby.