Bath time

Bath City 1 – 1 Forest Green Rovers
Preseason Friendly 
Saturday 27th July 2019
Twerton Park, Bath
Attendance: 366

It was looking like I would be going without seeing my beloved Bath City in preseason for the first time in a long while. As it was, my friend Jason is back for a few weeks, visiting from South Korea suggested we go to the Romans’ penultimate warm up game against League 2’s Forest Green Rovers. I didn’t take much persuasion so I hopped on the train to Bath.

The game started with the visitors very much on top and indeed they took the lead through slightly fortuitous circumstances – former City loanee Shawn McCoulsky charging down a weak back-pass and the ball found itself crossing the goal line. The home team grew gradually into the game but not before Rovers hit the crossbar from long range. By the time the referee blew up for half time, Bath could legitimately claim to have been the stronger team, but were unable to really test FGR’s trialist goalkeeper.

The second half started with the Romans pushing for the equaliser. A rare foray forward from the visiting players had City fans holding their breath as their forward swung a leg but failed to make contact when it looked like he had to score. The home side would get their goal but not before an seemingly innocuous coming-together, involving Jack Batten would leave the big centre back needing to be stretchered off. Potentially a big blow for Jerry Gill’s side with the season starting in 7 days time. Undeterred, Bath pushed forward once more; Tom Smith reaching a through-ball at the byline, and his first time cross was met emphatically by Tom Richards (a player who may now have earned himself a deal after having recently been let go by Bristol City) who headed in from 6 yards out. Sensing a winner, City continued to probe but shot over on a couple of occassions and had a penalty shout turned down right at the death. So it would finish all square.

Naturally I always look forward to going to Twerton Park, not least when the sun is shining like it was today. I was surprised at the relatively low turnout – i’m sure at least double will make the trip next Saturday when City kick off their season at home to Braintree. Sadly I won’t be there, but I will be following with interest from Spain. Hopefully Jack Batten will be in the starting XI for that game.