Shortwood United (0)1 Bath City (2)3

Sorry, not enough time to write a full report tonight, so a quick summary;

Nick McCootie scored from close range on 6 minutes after early City pressure, and the visitors went on to dominate most of the remainder of the half.  Similarly to Saturday a number of chances came and went with the Shortwood defenders again getting their bodies in the way of shots.

Eventually, the pressure told when Ben Adelsbury found the corner of the net with a shot from the edge of the box which found its way through a crowded area.

Dave Pratt had a goal disallowed for offside after the home keeper had blocked another shot.

Shortwood were unable to make any impression on the Bath defence and Jason Mellor had to content himself with taking a few crosses and fielding overhit long balls.

The second half began with City still on top and they made the game virtually safe with the best goal of the game on 54 minutes.  Pratt broke away down the right after a neat move, and his low cross was hammered into the net by the onrushing Andy Watkins giving the keeper no chance.

City continued to push forward and remained dangerous on the break and the defence comfortably dealt with any home threat.

The referee gave some truly baffling decisions throughout, almost exclusively to City's detriment.  McCootie was booked for defending his face from a point blank Shortwood clearance, but Pratt was perhaps a little fortunate to be shown only yellow for a lunging challenge during the first half.

The downside was an injury to Watkins who was caught late by a defender's challenge from behind as he was about to shoot.  The defender may have got a touch on the ball but the tackle was dangerous, and the referee compounded matters by incredibly giving a goal kick when it could only have been a corner or a penalty.

After a midfield scuffle, which saw Kyle Patten booked alongside two home players, Shortwood found a consolation goal deep into stoppage time with a glancing header from a corner.

All in all, a much deserved victory from a game where, unlike the match at Twerton Park on Saturday, the difference between the league status of the two sides was clearly evident.

jolly good report.