| It's now our fourth season since we were relegated from the Dr Martens Premier and in that time we've been beaten seven times by clubs from that tier of the pyramid. Cambridge City (twice), Havant & Waterlooville, Newport County, Aylesbury United, Bishops Stortford and now Bath City have all seen off our challenge and ended our Cup (or Trophy) dreams. It only goes to show how far we've fallen behind teams that we used to beat with ease. |
| Following last seasons Trophy exploits, many supporters would've hoped for an extended interest again this year, despite Chris Burns suggesting otherwise. With a decent FA Cup run already at an end and the possibilty of a fixture pile up looming it's fair to see why he'd prefer to go out rather than stay in, although from a fans point of view, it's bloody good fun! |
| We hadn't been to Twerton Park since our demotion from the Premier four years and three weeks earlier, that time we'd been beaten 1-5 by Paul Bodin's side and had been shown more cards than we'd deserved on a very frustrating afternoon. So it was with unusual reservation that we boarded the coach and headed down to North-East Somerset. |
| Today's game was always going to be difficult as City were down to the bare bones with Steve Jenkins and Adie Harris ruled out through injury, Neil Mustoe doubtful and Chris Thompson suffering from a flu bug. As it happened, the latter two did start with Keith Knight and Dave Wilkinson coming in for Chris Burns and Adam Hemming following the midweek draw with Gresley Rovers. |
The home side fielded two ex-Tigers, the defence being well marshalled under the influence of Matt Coupe and Jason Eaton used his experience to fool the referee into thinking he was being fouled throughout the game.
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| With the City fans gathered behind the goal I found a position along the side so I could get a few photos before the light got too bad, it was there that I also found myself a twat to argue with. I must be a knobhead magnet! |
| City actually started well and tried to use Jimmy Cox's pace to full advantage against a Bath defence that was well conditioned to leaking goals. The City forward got the better of his man before being cut down just inside the box, but as something that would make itself apparent through the game, the referee (Andy Williams from Hereford) gave us nothing. |
| One thing that caused great concern during Tuesday's game was the amount of balls that flew across the City goal, against better opposition in Bath it caused great discomfort as it happened again. Fortunately no-one could get near to the cross and Matt Bath's goal remained intact. |
| It wasn't long however before the City net was breached. On eleven minutes, new player-manager Gary Owers shot through legs from the edge of the box and Matty could only watch as the ball calmly rolled in. It was a real sucker punch for the Tigers as it was Bath's first shot on goal. |
| However, within two minutes the scores were level as Dave Wilkinson grabbed his fifth goal as many starts when he headed Keith Knight's cross over the dive of Mark Bryant in the Bath goal. Sadly for City though, Alfie Carter's mesmerising run and cross provided an easy tap in at the near post for Dan Cleverly and Bath retook the lead. |
City tried to attack their way back into the game, first when Lee Smith forced a good save on the keepers near post, although he may have done better had he played the ball into the middle. Following that, Neil Mustoe, Jimmy Cox and Andy Hoskins all swung a boot at the ball as it pinged around the Roman's penalty area, all to no avail.
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| Mustoe then saw his cross headed over his own bar by the Bath defender, but the corner came to nothing. The Tigers were doing their best to soak up the limited attacking threat from their hosts, scumboy Eaton spent most of the game facing his own goal and posed little threat to Matt Bath. At the other end Bryant had to race off his line to beat Jimmy Cox to Tom Webb's nicely weighted through ball. |
| On their attacking play, City deserved to be at least level at half time and would've been but for a superb one handed save from Bryant. Tom Webb's cross from the left touchline cleared everyone except Lee Smith who stretched to volley in a powerful shot, but the stopper dived and pawed the ball into his body to break the Tigers hearts. |
| At half time Bath player manager Owers came off and was replaced by Drew Shore, City made no changes, although to be fair we didn't have many players on the bench who would've turned the game. |
| Chances were at a premium for both teams in the opening minutes of the second period with Bath's best effort being a shot over the bar from goalscorer Cleverly, for the Tigers, a Tom Webb run and shot resulted in a corner that came to nothing. |
It has been said that Webb was head and shoulders above his team mates but I also think that Jimmy deserves a mention, he played as well as he could and having had a short spell at Twerton Park during the latter stages of the 1999/2000 season he would've also wanted to leave a good impression on the club he turned his back on. He made one of his powerful runs, beating a defender to a ball over the top but his effort after cutting inside was well blocked by another Romans face.
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| City made their first change just before the hour mark when Adam Hemming replaced Keith Knight (and Tom Webb moved into the middle), but for all the young City sub's effort he was no match for the experience of Matt Coupe who easily arrested anything he tried. |
| Although Lee Smith was having trouble getting beyond Bath's left back Alfie Carter on his runs, he occasionally found space to meet long passes and could've rescued the game on one foray when Neil Mustoe found him, but Bryant again got a strong hand to his poked shot towards the far post. |
| Whether it was tactical or injury induced, Carter was taken off for Bath swiftly followed by Wilko (who was knackered) being replaced by Chris Burns. This led to the most painful period for the travelling Tigers as Bath easily soaked up anything we could throw at them or we simply ran out of ideas. |
| With a last throw of the dice Karl Bayliss came on for Lee Smith but the referee blew for full time before the veteran striker had even touched the ball and City's hopes and dreams of another Trophy run were dashed. |
| At least we can now concentrate on the league and look forward to next year when it's highly likely that we'll be playing the Romans in the DM Premier. |
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