06/07/2025
⚽️ The Droitwich Summer League Opener - And what a game it was……⚽️
Delivering everything you’d want, goals, drama, controversy, and end-to-end action from the first whistle to the last.
The young Lions showed they’ve matured, looking more rounded than last season, and it wasn’t a surprise when Joe Hurdman opened the scoring with a tidy header to make it 1–0. But the Vets hit back swiftly, with James Raynor bagging to level the game at 1–1 and peg them back.
As the first half neared its climax, Hurdman struck again — this time after a dazzling sequence of drag backs before drilling the ball into the bottom corner for 2–1. But the drama was far from over. Just before the break, the referee pointed to the spot after a handball was spotted in a crowded box. Up stepped veteran marksman Steve Nurse, who calmly slotted it home to make it 2–2.
Second Half:
The Vets came out strong and nearly took the lead, only for Miles Lester to deny Jamie Gifford with a smart save. The Lions then roared back, with Hurdman turning provider and squaring for Meynell to slide in for 3–2.
They thought they’d sealed it when Batchelor wheeled away in celebration after following up his own lob over the keeper from close range — but the flag was up for offside. In true end-to-end style, the Vets responded almost immediately. A set-piece wasn’t dealt with and Nurse pounced to grab his second, levelling things once more at 3–3.
Gifford had another chance to steal it late on capitalising on a weak back pass but Lester stood tall yet again. And just when it looked like the Vets had found a dramatic winner, Gifford’s finish was ruled out after the ball was judged to have gone out of play in the build-up.
And so, the curtain-raiser ended in a well-fought and breathless draw in a match both will feel they could have won but both glad they didn’t lose.
