Bath City (1)4 Chelmsford City (0)1

Bath City produced an encouraging performance in front of their largest gate of the season as they defeated Chelmsford City at Mayday Trust Park. A total of 1,374 witnessed an entertaining and eventful match that graced the club’s Community Day. The only disappointment of the afternoon was the dismissal of Jason Mellor eleven minutes from time for an act of retaliation on substitute Luke Callander.

City started with an attacking line up that saw Ross Stern playing a free role behind a front three of Dave Pratt, Josh Low and Andy Watkins but, despite, this, it was Chelmsford who made the early running. The first chance fell to Kieron St Aimie, but the burly striker lifted his shot high over the perimeter fencing and into neighbouring Highland Road.

The hosts began to find some passing rhythm and Watkins broke free down the left, only for his cross from the byline to evade the onrushing Stearn at the far post.

City did, however, have a golden opportunity to take the lead on 8 minutes when Watkins, running across goal, was clumsily brought down by keeper Tommy Forecast. Referee Mr. Anthony Coggins of Bicester immediately pointed to the spot and issued the gloveman with a yellow card. Chris Allen took responsibility, but his penalty was too close to Forecast, who was able to make a comfortable save.

The home team were undeterred and, whilst Chelmsford had their share of possession, it was Lee Howells’ men who looked the more threatening in attack. Watkins volleyed wide from the edge of the box following a partially cleared corner kick in the 11th minute, and Dan Ball’s similar effort six minutes later was too high to trouble Forecast.

The Romans finally found the target on 27 minutes when Forecast failed to deal effectively with Watkins’ cross from the left. The loose ball ran to Ben Adelsbury 10 yards from goal, and he made no mistake as he fired his shot beyond the recovering keeper.

It was no more that City deserved, but The Clarets came more into the game for the remainder of the first half. Mellor did well to smother Mark Hughes’ angled shot in the 32nd minute, but the hosts almost increased their advantage nine minutes before the break. Stearn’s cross from the right looped over Forecast, and a defender did extremely well to clear off the goal-line as Watkins was about to pounce.

The final opening fell to Joe Ward who raced on to Matthew Lock’s long free kick, but the winger lofted his effort high over Mellor’s crossbar.

The early exchanges of the second period were fairly even, with Low almost hitting the corner flag with his 51st minute shot after he had cut in from the right and, at the other end, Tom Davis dragged his effort wide of Mellor’s post a minute later.

City strengthened their hold on the game after 55 minutes when Pratt won a free kick just to the right of the penalty box. Stearn’s first effort struck the defensive wall but, when the ball came back to him, he unleashed a powerful low drive that took a slight deflection on its way into the net beyond the seemingly flat-footed Forecast.

Stearn was narrowly wide with a rising shot from 25 yards on 57 minutes, and the same player saw his free kick from a more central position again blocked by the defensive wall.

Despite enduring increasing Bath pressure, Chelmsford came close to reducing the arrears after 62 minutes, but the well placed Aaron Green shot wastefully across goal and wide of the far post.

It was against the run of play, therefore, when the arrears were reduced on 65 minutes. City failed to clear the ball following a goalmouth scramble and Sekani Simpson’s attempted back pass wrong-footed Mellor, who slipped and presented Callander with a simple tap in from close range.

The home team were once again stung into action, and took only five minutes to restore their two goal cushion. Adelsbury rifled a low shot goalwards from 25 yards that Forecast was only able to parry, and Watkins reacted quickly to find the back of the net from the rebound.

Adam Connolly replaced Low in the 72nd minute in order to reinforce the midfield, but the game’s controversial moment arrived on 78 minutes. Mellor collected a through ball into his box but was caught by a late lunge from Callander. The striker then threw his forearm at the goalkeeper’s throat, who reacted angrily by pushing his assailant in the face. Whilst understandable, Mellor’s actions were ill advised, and he was duly shown the red card by Mr. Coggins. Unbelievably, and to the complete astonishment of the home faithful, the man in black then saw fit to only caution the main aggressor.

Adelsbury was forced to take the gloves, and Stearn made way for Joe Burnell as City reshuffled the pack. The makeshift custodian was called into action in the 83rd minute when he got down well to turn Michael Cheek’s low shot round the post, and Christian Smith nodded over the bar from the resultant corner kick.

Dan Bowman came on for Watkins with five minutes left on the clock, and the City rearguard did well to protect Adelsbury as Chelmsford pushed forward in numbers. Indeed, it was the visitors’ commitment to press forward that presented the home team with the chance to hammer the final nail in their coffin. Burnell released Pratt down the right three minutes into stoppage time, and the forward raced into the area, lifting the ball over the advancing Forecast and into the unguarded net.

This was an excellent victory for City on their special day, and it was fantastic that so many were present to witness the entertainment on offer. The hosts were fully worthy of the three points, with Mellor’s sending off being the only detracting factor. The Somerset side will now travel to Havant & Waterlooville on Monday night in confident mood, and hoping to extend their winning sequence to four games.

BATH CITY; Jason Mellor, Sekani Simpson, Dan Ball, Andy Gallinagh, Phil Walsh, Ben Adelsbury, Ross Stearn (Joe Burnell 78) Chris Allen, Josh Low (Adam Connolly 72), Andy Watkins (Dan Bowman 85), Dave Pratt: Subs not used; Scott Wilson, Noah Keats.

CHELMSFORD CITY; Tommy Forecast, Justin Miller, Leon Redwood, Matthew Lock, Mark Haines, Christian Smith, Joe Ward, Mark Hughes, Kieron St Aimie, Tom Davis, Aaron Greene: Subs; Michael Cheek, Richard Avery, Rob Edmans, Luke Callander, Carl Pentney.

Referee; Anthony Coggins (Bicester)

Att; 1,374