Bath City (1)2 Bishop's Stortford (0)0

Bath City secured their first home National League South victory since September as they defeated relegation threatened Bishop’s Stortford.  A goal either side of the interval was sufficient to earn all three points and, with more steadiness in front of goal, the winning margin could well have been greater.

The home side created the first opening when Miles Welch-Hayes swung in a cross from the left that eluded Marvin Morgan, and passed narrowly wide of the far post.  However, it was the visitors who showed the greater urgency during the first quarter of the match as City struggled at times to gain possession.  

A cross from the left in the 10th minute was flicked on by Shomari Barnwell and forced Max O’Leary into a tumbling, but comfortable, save.  Six minutes later, Zach Fagan was just wide of O’Leary’s near post with a firm low shot following a corner from the right.  

Stortford’s continued to enjoy the upper hand and Barnwell broke clear of the Bath defence on 22 minutes, but succeeded only in dragging his shot wide from the edge of the area.

Thereafter, the hosts began to wake from their slumbers and, when a corner kick fell to Nick McCootie, his shot on the turn was just off target.  On 24 minutes, Morgan had a sight of goal, but his looping volley failed to trouble Harry Voss between the Stortford sticks.

The game continued in scrappy fashion with constructive football at a premium, but a neat move by The Romans on the half hour mark ended with Andy Watkins crossing to McCootie, but the forward was unable to apply the finishing touch at the far post.  Welch-Hayes then clipped an inviting ball into the Bishop’s Stortford box in the 33rd minute and, this time, McCootie’s header clattered against the upright.  The effort was rendered academic, however, as the referee, Mr. Sam Purkiss, penalised the Cityman for a push.

The breakthrough finally arrived four minutes before half time following a short corner routine.  Billy Murphy eventually drove a low ball into the 6-yard box from the byline that was turned back across the face of goal by Axel Andresson, with McCootie bundling the ball over the line from close range.  It was a distinctly untidy goal but, equally, was suitably reflective of general proceedings to this point.

There was a scare for the hosts immediately after the break when Barnwell found space in the home box, but he volleyed his shot wide from 15 yards.  It was to prove a costly miss, as City doubled their advantage on 48 minutes.  Voss had to make a diving save to repel Morgan’s shot, with a defender conceding a corner from the rebound.  Murphy curled the ball into the box, where Jack Batten glanced a stooping header into the side netting just inside the far post.

Bath were now well on top and the visitors ceased to pose any serious threat up front.  George Rigg’s right wing cross was met by Watkins, but his header dipped narrowly over the crossbar.  Watkins then delivered an enticing cross of his own in the 65th minute, but Naby Diallo was unable to make contact at the far post.

Batten nodded another Murphy corner over Stortford’s bar on 72 minutes, before the latter was replaced by Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, and Chas Hemmings came on for Diallo.

City continued to press forward whenever possible, and Lemonheigh-Evans had a trio of opportunities to open his goalscoring account inside the final five minutes.  Firstly, he screwed his shot wide after a strong run and cross from the hard working McCootie, then he fired just over the bar from 25 yards, but his best chance arrived one minute into stoppage time.  McCootie was again the provider as he raced into the box, and crossed from the right into the substitute’s path.  The loanee, who was completely unmarked and three yards out in front of the goal, somehow contrived to miss the ball completely, bamboozling the onrushing Watkins in the process.

This was a much needed and long awaited home success for Gary Owers’ team, and they were fully deserving of their victory.  Bishop’s Stortford demonstrated why they have endured their struggles this season with their lack of cutting edge, but City still needed to show perseverance and determination to prevail.  It was never a pretty game, the heavy underfoot conditions no doubt playing its part but, as is frequently pointed out in footballing circles, the win is sometimes more important than the performance.

Bath City: Max O'Leary; George Rigg, Jack Batten, Axel Andresson, Miles Welch-Hayes; Naby Diallo (Chas Hemmings 73), Billy Murphy (Connor Lemonheigh-Evans 74), Frankie Artus; Nick McCootie, Marvin Morgan, Andy Watkins.  Subs not used: Shaquille Hunter, Josh Hutchinson, Lee Marshall.

Bishop’s Stortford: Harry Voss; Paul Rodgers, Alex Stephenson, Harry Hickford, Emmanuel Adelbowale, Phil Walsh, Elliott Ronto, Zach Fagan, Shomari Barnwell (Luke Callander 67), Greg Cundle (Samuel Ford 57), Aaron Greene (Correy Davidson 85).  Subs not used: Frantz Nagassa, Adam Everitt.

Referee: Mr. Sam Purkiss.

Attendance: 543.

Sometimes it's the kind of result that gives you the momentum you need. As you say, it's been a long time coming.

Where were we after twenty-five games in our last promotion season? Anybody?

10th

And five points from the play-offs. The top four at the time made it into the play-offs, Thurrock missed out and we finished above Dover (at that point we were six points behind with two games in hand).

One of the most refreshing things about our recent good run is the attitude of our young centre backs. 'You will not pass' appears to be their mantra and they both keep everything simple whether the ball is in the air or on the ground. The ridiculously over priced Stones could take a leaf out of their book after his latest hilarious display at Goodison yesterday.

comrade powell wrote:One of the most refreshing things about our recent good run is the attitude of our young centre backs. 'You will not pass' appears to be their mantra and they both keep everything simple whether the ball is in the air or on the ground. The ridiculously over priced Stones could take a leaf out of their book after his latest hilarious display at Goodison yesterday.  

Shame some others don't agree. Heard a few moaning about them putting the ball in the air on Saturday. I saw no problem with it - the pitch cut up a bit, understandably, so no need to take chances. And we kept a clean sheet again, which was nice.

stillmanjunior wrote:

comrade powell wrote:One of the most refreshing things about our recent good run is the attitude of our young centre backs. 'You will not pass' appears to be their mantra and they both keep everything simple whether the ball is in the air or on the ground. The ridiculously over priced Stones could take a leaf out of their book after his latest hilarious display at Goodison yesterday.  

Shame some others don't agree. Heard a few moaning about them putting the ball in the air on Saturday. I saw no problem with it - the pitch cut up a bit, understandably, so no need to take chances. And we kept a clean sheet again, which was nice.

Stortford liking to play with icicles von the ball bringing down the ball to the deck can be difficult. Plus they have been praised for their solidness. What do we want?

we want linesmen who get involved in incidents in parts of the pitch that both the ref and the other lino have a better view of.