SALTMEN boss Mark Owen says that his Droitwich Spa side are eager to get the season underway, after stepping up their preparations with a straightforward 3-0 victory over Kidderminster Harriers under-23s.
Goals from Alex Dugmore, Jimmy Ward and Connor Collins handed Spa their fourth win of pre-season after another convincing performance, in a match played at Kidderminster Harriers’ training complex.
Owen says that the latest win is up there with one of the best showings from the warm-up games, but still holds the victory over Stourport Swifts as the benchmark for the forthcoming campaign.
“It was hard to top the Stourport result, from everything I’ve heard back from that game it was the most complete result,” he said.
“On Saturday, Kidderminster played a young, hungry side, they kept the ball well and passed it around, but we played really well and forced their keeper into a number of one-on-one saves.”
Droitwich dominated the encounter and were denied the lead when James Lemon’s 25-yard strike was tipped wide when seeming destined for the bottom corner.
Dugmore then broke the deadlock on 20 minutes, before Ward made it two ten minutes later.
In the second half, Spa were close to extending their lead with chances falling to Jack Davies, Collins and Lemon, but all three were denied.
A foul on Lemon handed an opportunity to seal victory, which Collins gratefully accepted by converting the resulting penalty.
The Droitwich Spa manager emphasised the need to get onto the pitch in a competitive sense, to put their growing ability as a side capable of playing good, technical football to the test.
“It’s something that I looked at last season and identified,” said Owen.
“We wanted to play a certain style and we’ve brought in different types of players to do that.
“I think this squad just need that first competitive game now, they’ve got match fitness in their legs but it’s just about playing.”
With the dawn of the new season just over a week away, Owen admits he is happy with the squad currently at his disposal, but may yet add a couple of new names before the season start.
“We’ve been looking at one or two players, but we’re very happy with the squad we’ve got,” he said.
“If individuals come along then we would look at it, but at the moment we’re settled.”
