Roman Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Bath City (1)2 Concord Rangers (0)0

3 posters

Go down

Bath City (1)2  Concord Rangers (0)0 Empty Bath City (1)2 Concord Rangers (0)0

Post by Kelston Koppite Sun Jan 21, 2018 8:54 am

Bath City returned to winning ways at Twerton Park against Concord Rangers, scoring their first goals in front of their home supporters since their defeat of East Thurrock United back on 11th November.  Strikes from Jack Batten and Jack Compton in the latter stages of each half were sufficient to send their opponents back to Essex empty handed.

The opening fifteen minutes was devoid of notable events, but Compton then carved out an opportunity by cutting inside from the right before shooting unsuccessfully from an angle.  Concord almost benefitted from a mistake by Anthony Straker on 17 minutes but Andy Freeman, with a clear sight of goal, struck his shot wide from 18 yards with only Luke Southwood to beat.

The highly influential James Morton cleverly slotted a pass to Tom Smith inside the Rangers’ box in the 19th minute, but the midfielder placed his effort the wrong side of Louis Wells’ post.

Ben Greenhalgh had the ball in the City net for the visitors on 20 minutes, but was denied by an offside flag and, at the other end, Ross Stearn’s wobbling shot from distance flew comfortably over the bar and into the Bristol End terracing.

The hosts were now gaining some momentum in their play and were beginning to pose a real threat going forward.  On the half hour mark, Miles Welch-Hayes produced a weaving run at the Rangers’ defence and slid a pass to Smith inside the area, but this time, the latter’s shot was repelled by Wells’ legs.  The ball ran loose to Batten, but his effort from 30 yards was high and wide.

The industrious Frankie Artus twice tried his luck from outside the box, the first being saved by Wells at the foot of his post, and the second was drilled narrowly wide.  Stearn’s curling shot on 39 minutes drifted agonisingly wide of the far post, and the same player then fired a cross shot over the bar.

Smith found the back of the net in the 41st minute with a clever dink over Wells’, but an offside flag kept the score level.  However, the home side took a deserved lead two minutes before the break when Compton swung a right-wing free kick into the danger area, and Batten rose highest to power a header onto the roof of the net. The reaction from the home faithful was a blend of joy and relief.

The final action of the half saw debutant striker Antoine Semenyo, on loan from Bristol City, produce a stinging half volley from 25 yards that flew over Wells’ crossbar.

The Beachboys emerged after the interval looking to find a way back into the game, and Luke Southwood was called into action on 50 minutes.  Greenhalgh delivered a freekick from the left into the home box, and Lewis Knight’s flicked header forced the City keeper into a smart diving save.  It was Bath though that began to regain the upper hand in terms of possession and territorial domination as the game progressed.

Stearn sent a free kick from 25 yards well over the crossbar, but was much closer on 56 minutes when, having been found by a threaded through ball from Welch-Hayes, he struck a low shot narrowly wide of the post.  

Concord remained a threat on the break and had an excellent chance to draw level after 59 minutes.  Freeman, once again, found himself clean through on goal, but shot wastefully wide of the target from 18 yards out.

Nat Jarvis came on for the tiring Semenyo on 65 minutes as City went in search of a second goal.  Morton drove a shot over Wells’ bar from outside the box following a corner that had only been partially cleared, before skipper Kevin Amankwaah was forced from the field of play through injury, being replaced by Dan Ball.

The game was finally put out of Concord’s reach with 10 minutes left on the clock.  Compton beat two defenders out wide on the right with some neat trickery, and then produced a stunning angled shot from 25 yards that ripped into the far corner of the net beyond the bewildered Wells.

As the clock ran down, Welch-Hayes almost enhanced the winning margin, but his rising shot from inside the box just cleared the angle of post and crossbar.

This was a very welcome victory for Jerry Gill’s men and finally ended the goal drought at Twerton.  City were well worth their win and played some excellent football at times, but Concord played their part as resilient opponents, and maintained a threat when they went forward.  The fact that this was Rangers’ first defeat in 13 league outings puts this Bath performance into perspective, and they will go into next week’s encounter at Oxford City with confidence.

Bath City: Luke Southwood, Miles Welch-Hayes, Kevin Amankwaah (Dan Ball 78), Jack Batten, Anthony Straker, Frankie Artus, James Morton, Ross Stearn, Tom Smith, Jack Compton (George Rigg 85), Antoine Semenyo (Nat Jarvis 66). Subs not used: Matt Richards, Kieran Hodges.

Concord Rangers: Louis Wells; Rob Girdlestone, Jordan Brown, Harry Lee (Zack Littlejohn 90+4), Lewis Knight, Jed Smith, Billy Roast, Ben Greenhalgh, Steve Cawley, Andy Freeman (Kyron Farrell 70). Subs not used: Khale Da Costa, Femi Akinwande, George Marsh.

Referee:  Mr. Scott Jackson

Att:  569


Last edited by Kelston Koppite on Sun Jan 21, 2018 10:20 am; edited 1 time in total
Kelston Koppite
Kelston Koppite

Posts : 291
Join date : 2014-02-23

Back to top Go down

Bath City (1)2  Concord Rangers (0)0 Empty Re: Bath City (1)2 Concord Rangers (0)0

Post by BenE Sun Jan 21, 2018 10:00 am

I thought the first goal came from a free kick.
BenE
BenE

Posts : 2398
Join date : 2014-02-11

Back to top Go down

Bath City (1)2  Concord Rangers (0)0 Empty Re: Bath City (1)2 Concord Rangers (0)0

Post by Kelston Koppite Sun Jan 21, 2018 10:22 am

BenE wrote:I thought the first goal came from a free kick.

Yes. You are correct BenE. Well spotted. I have amended accordingly. (Couldn't read my scribbled notes!)
Kelston Koppite
Kelston Koppite

Posts : 291
Join date : 2014-02-23

Back to top Go down

Bath City (1)2  Concord Rangers (0)0 Empty Re: Bath City (1)2 Concord Rangers (0)0

Post by BenE Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:14 am

It was one of the few fouls the ref couldn't let go.
BenE
BenE

Posts : 2398
Join date : 2014-02-11

Back to top Go down

Bath City (1)2  Concord Rangers (0)0 Empty Re: Bath City (1)2 Concord Rangers (0)0

Post by the demon headmaster Sun Jan 21, 2018 1:21 pm

Reading this made me realise just how many efforts on goal we had. It could have been a draw (which wouldn’t have reflected the balance of power in the match) but we could have easily won by more. Great entertainment.

the demon headmaster

Posts : 426
Join date : 2014-02-25

Back to top Go down

Bath City (1)2  Concord Rangers (0)0 Empty Re: Bath City (1)2 Concord Rangers (0)0

Post by Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum