Bath City (1)3 Hampton & Richmond Borough (0)0

Bath City returned to winning ways at Twerton Park as they defeated lowly Hampton & Richmond Borough. The first half was fairly even with just a Ryan Brunt penalty separating the sides at the break, but the hosts dominated the second period to run out eventual victors by a three goal margin.

The visitors created the first chance of the match in the 2nd minute when Danilo Orsi-Dadomo found himself through on goal, but his shot lacked the power or direction to beat home keeper Ryan Clarke, who saved without undue difficulty. City responded with an opening of their own on 6 minutes as a Connor Riley-Lowe cross from the left picked out Tom Smith who swivelled smartly before shooting wide of the near post.

Dan Rooney found room inside the Borough box in the 8th minute and his powerful strike was well beaten away by visiting goalkeeper Laurie Walker. Rooney then exchanged passes with Smith on the edge of the area before firing a rising shot over Walker’s crossbar.

The deadlock was broken after 17 minutes when Owura Edwards’ cross from the right found Brunt, who was brought to the ground by an untidy defensive challenge. The striker dusted himself down before planting his spot kick firmly into the corner of the net to Walker’s right.

Ryan Hill raced through the City rearguard in the 24th minute, only to be upended perilously close to the edge of the box, with Hampton’s earnest appeals for a penalty being turned away by the referee Mr. Robert Massey-Ellis. Hill took the resulting free kick himself and drew a fine diving save from Clarke, with the keeper making another good block to repel the follow up effort from Ruaridh Donaldson.

Frankie Artus tried his luck from distance on 29 minutes but his shot passed tamely past Walker’s upright, and Joe Raynes was then just wide with a better struck effort from 25 yards.

Edwards, who was causing problems down the right flank with his pace, turned his man inside the Borough box in the 31st minute, but fired well over the crossbar from a good position.

The Beavers appeared to have an even better claim for a penalty after 34 minutes when Hill was, once again, brought down as he entered the City box. Mr. Massey-Ellis gave another free kick on the edge of the box and, this time, the defensive wall did its duty.

With eight minutes remaining before the interval, Edwards delivered an inviting cross from the right that was met by Brunt, but his looping headed dropped narrowly wide of the far post.

City began the second half on the front foot, but Smith’s 48th minute shot was too high and wide to trouble Walker. Two minutes later Edwards passed inside into the path of Artus, but the midfielder’s badly sliced effort was well wide of the target.

Artus was then replaced by Tom Richards as the home side continued to have the better of proceedings. Riley-Lowe’s freekick from the left on the hour mark found Matt Bower, but he was unable to direct his header under the bar.

The host’s pressure finally bore fruit on 71 minutes when Smith broke free down the right flank before crossing into the 6 yard area, where Brunt was on hand to steer his shot past Walker and into the net.

Ross Stearn came on for Rooney after 72 minutes before Hampton had a rare sight of goal. However, Tyrell Miller-Rodney’s shot from 20 yards was comfortably wide of Clarke’s woodwork.

The outcome of the game was put beyond any doubt in the 82nd minute when Stearn’s free kick from the left eventually fell to Smith 20 yards from goal, who struck a fierce low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

In the remaining minutes Charlie Fox nodded over Clarke’s bar after a spell of head tennis in the home box, and Zak Joseph’s shot was headed behind for a corner by Bower as the City defence remained unbreached.

This was a convincing win by Jerry Gill’s men who played some neat football at times and, in the end, the margin of victory could have been greater. However, Hampton held their own in the first 45 minutes and, had one of the marginal penalty decisions gone in their favour, the outcome may well have been different. From City’s perspective, perhaps this will be seen to even matters up following events at Chelmsford last Saturday. The side will now travel to Billericay next weekend with renewed confidence.

Bath City; Ryan Clarke, Joe Raynes, Connor Riley-Lowe, Matt Bower, Alex Hartridge, Harry Hamblin, Frankie Artus (Tom Richards 52), Dan Rooney (Ross Stearn 72), Tom Smith, Owura Edwards, Ryan Brunt (Adam Mann 76). Subs not used; Andy Watkins, Harvey Wiles-Richards.

Hampton & Richmond Borough; Laurie Walker, Tom Jelley, Ruaridh Donaldson, Charlie Fox, Brad Pearce, Dean Inman, Ryan Hill, Chris Paul, Danilo Orsi-Dadomo, Louis Stead, Tyrell Miller-Rodney. Subs; Ed Cook, Connor Coulson, Jake Flannigan, Bobby Mills, Zak Joseph.

Referee; Mr. Robert Massey-Ellis

Attendance; 707

That was so much better.Matt Bower was excellent and Edwards a revelation .This was the Bath City we know from the beginning of the season and how we played last season.Once we scored the second it was a little more relaxing to watch as you felt a third could happen.They were quick especially their number seven but we got the measure of him more in the second half.Maybe we were fortunate with the two free kick decisions in the first half that may have been penalties but it’s about time we had some luck especially after Saturday.Lets hope we move onwards and upwards now as we deserve.Pleased for Jerry as the past couple of weeks must have been so frustrating for him.

Good report. I felt that we weren't 3 goals better but deserved a bit of luck given the persistent fouling by Hampton. It is all very well trying to give advantage but when a player like Edwards has had to wrestle a much bigger opponent for a minute before a decision is given, it will be exhausting for him over the game.
In the event he provided what we have been missing. Real pace. While Rooney provided quality. I thought Matt Bower looked cultured but overall the defence got away with some indecision.

tovid wrote: I thought Matt Bower looked cultured

You won't get away with that!

But I agree, I thought he was excellent last night. As he's so quiet and seemingly humble I think the post match MOM interview in the bar was a bit of an ordeal for him but he did well especially as the microphone wasn't available. And thanks to those present for remaining quiet so that he could be heard.

Great to get back to winning ways. Yes we did seem to get the rub of the green in the first half but showed real determination to kill off Hampton in the second. Probably a tougher opponent awaits us in Billericay but the confidence in the squad must have returned.

Thanks for another excellent report kk

2weirdtown wrote:Thanks for another excellent report kk

No problem.

I wasn't able to get to the last three matches, so I remain undefeated this season!!

[quote="comrade powell"]

tovid wrote: I thought Matt Bower looked cultured

You won't get away with that!


You know it is possible for some very tall people to be cultured Martin , myself being a case in point.