MANAGER Mark Owen believes Droitwich Spa have secured a mouth-watering strike force for next season in prolific pair James Lemon and Connor Collins.

Lemon returns to Droitwich after spending the second half of last season with Worcester City while Collins arrives from local rivals Fairfield Villa.

The duo have impressive goal-scoring records with Lemon netting 139 times in 140 appearances for Spa and Collins notching 132 goals in 149 games for Fairfield.

Owen said he was “over the moon” to land both frontmen and reckoned they had the potential to cause sides problems in West Midlands League Division One.

“The stats don’t lie,” Owen said.

“They are both big, strong lads with pace. Connor is left footed and James is right footed.

“Their goal-scoring rate is ridiculous at this level – you couldn’t ask for any better.

“It is just about getting them to have an understanding which we will work on over the summer.

“Hopefully come the start of the season they will be able to hit the ground running.”

Lemon made 18 outings for Worcester, but parted company at the end of the campaign and Owen was delighted to welcome the striker back to Spa.

“To lose James just before Christmas was massive,” Owen said.

“It had a big impact on our season as you cannot go out and replace that kind of player at this level.

“To have him back and Connor’s ability as well I am over the moon.”

Lemon and Collins are among six signings made by Droitwich in recent weeks with Omar Salih, Lewis Phillips, Alex Dugmore and Jimmy Ward all agreeing terms.

Salih, who has previously played for Fairfield, was first deployed as a left-sided midfielder, but has since moved into the centre and has been known to play up front.

He had a break from Saturday football last season but was a regular in the Bromsgrove League.

Dugmore arrives from Fairfield where he made 80 appearances in defence and helped them to a top-five finish in Midland League Division Two in the 2018-19 campaign.

Left-footed Phillips who can operate in defence or midfield also makes the move from Villa while Ward returns for his fourth spell at Spa.

Ward has played on 71 occasions for Saltmen over the course of four seasons, scoring 41 goals from midfield. His best record came in the 2014-15 season when he netted 26 times in 34 appearances.

Owen added: “We couldn’t be more pleased in terms of who we have signed and retained.

“The squad finished third and we have added to that.”