Bath City (3)4 East Thurrock United (0)0

Bath City produced an outstanding performance at Twerton Park this afternoon to see off the challenge of East Thurrock United. The Romans persevered with the passing game that has been instilled by manager Jerry Gill since his arrival but, this time, their enterprising play was rewarded with four goals.

Initially, the match was fairly low key as the sides weighed up their opposition, with most of the action being in the midfield areas. However, the first incident of note arrived on 13 minutes when the returning Miles Welch-Hayes made good ground down the right flank, and saw his cross narrowly evade Nat Jarvis at the far post. Dan Ball headed wide of the near post from the resulting corner, which was delivered by home debutant Matt Richards.

Tom Smith picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, and his rasping effort was palmed over the bar by United keeper Harry Wright, but the hosts were ahead on 15 minutes. Opi Edwards burst inside from the right, skipped into the box beyond two defenders and fired home with aplomb, giving Wright no chance whatsoever.

East Thurrock tried to find a quick response, but Sam Higgins glanced a header wide of Luke Southwood’s far post and, on 21 minutes, Marvin Expetita’s shot from the edge of the area failed to trouble the City custodian.

Bath were now playing with confidence and Frankie Artus’ speculative effort from distance on 25 minutes was saved awkwardly by Wright. Two minutes later, Edwards’ drive from 18 yards was deflected narrowly wide, and Andy Watkins’ header from the resulting corner was hurriedly cleared off the goal-line.

Watkins also glanced a header wide of the far post from Artus’ left wing cross, and the latter then shot well wide of the target from outside the box.

The game burst into life as the half time whistle approached, with Southwood making a useful diving save to hold Higgins’ header from a Reece Harris cross. The play rapidly switched to the other end, where Welch-Hayes’ powerful run took him across the edge of the penalty area, with his eventual low shot beating Wright’s dive and finding the corner of the net for his first goal in City colours.

It was no more than the home side deserved for their overall superiority, but Southwood needed to remain alert to hold Higgins’ shot, an act that was the prelude to a third City strike. A sweeping move ended with Anthony Straker playing the ball inside to Artus, whose audacious back-heeled flick fell perfectly for Watkins to drive into the net, albeit with the help of a deflection.

The two quickfire goals clearly left the Essex side reeling, and the first 15 minutes of the second period saw City sit comfortably on their lead. The first effort at goal of the half arrived on 62 minutes, but Higgins’ shot from 25 yards was well wide.

Artus’ misdirected shot from distance after 65 minutes was sandwiched between Nick McCootie coming on for Jarvis, and Edwards making way for Marvin Morgan.

The visitors tried manfully to find a way back into the game, but James White’s shot from the edge of the area was too high to trouble Southwood, and Higgins’ extravagant volley was blocked by Straker at the expense of a corner.

As United pushed further forward there was always the danger that they would be caught on the break, and so it proved. On 76 minutes, Watkins threaded a sublime pass through The Rocks’ defence releasing Smith, who raced towards the box before clinically threading the ball past the outrushing Wright, and inside the post.

It was Smith’s last action as he was replaced by Billy Murphy, and the hosts saw out the remainder of the game without any undue alarm for a very welcome three points.

This was a fully deserved victory for City who played some excellent and exiting football, particularly during the first half. To their credit, East Thurrock produced some neat football throughout and their effort cannot be faulted. However, the two goals just before half time were pivotal, and the magnitude of the deficit was too simply great to overcome. From City’s perspective, this was a morale boosting result and, without doubt, demonstrates that the players have the ability to succeed whilst employing this new-found style of football.

Bath City: Luke Southwood; MilesWelch-Hayes, Jack Batten, Dan Ball, Anthony Straker; Matt Richards; Opi Edwards (Marvin Morgan 66), Frankie Artus, Tom Smith (Billy Murphy 77), Andy Watkins; Nat Jarvis (Nick McCootie 63). Subs not used: George Rigg, Jamie Lucas.

East Thurrock United: Harry Wright; Ryan Sammons, Reece Harris, George Allen, Marvin Expetita, James White, Jack Paxman, Lee Burns, Sam Higgins, Tom Richardson, Lewis Smith.
Subs not used: Max Cornhill, Ryan Boswell, Calvin Expetita, Montel Agyemang, Vincent Belho.

Ref: Mr. Scott Jackson

Att: 907

Excellent stuff KK. One not to miss and hopefully some of those down at TP for the first time will return.