City cruise to historic 5-2 victory

On a massive roll now. Our strikers hadn't been firing, but they had the credentials to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Echanomi's goal drought is broken and a flood of goals made the tie a one-sided affair:

AFC Wimbledon 2 - 5 Bath City (FA Trophy 1st Rnd)

A deserved 5 - 2 win for Bath City over AFC Wimbledon this afternoon was greeted with delight by the victorious team's fans and players alike. A brace from Kaid Mohamed helped Bath to victory.

Things did not get off to a good start for AFC Wimbledon as striker Efe Echanomi seized on an error by Paul Lorraine to score a well timed close range finish. Striker Kaid Mohamed doubled Bath's lead with a powerful effort from the edge of the area on 18 minutes.

With AFC Wimbledon staring at defeat, there was controversy as midfielder Sam Hatton then had a penalty shout turned down. Mohamed added another goal for Bath with an effort from the edge of the area on 34 minutes.

Veteran centre-back Kevin Gray went on to add to the lead with a well timed close range finish on 37 minutes. Midfielder Elliott Godfrey pulled one back for AFC Wimbledon after 43 minutes with a freak goal.

Evans then increased Bath's advantage further with a placed shot on 75 minutes. Striker Jon Main pulled one back for AFC Wimbledon after 80 minutes with a well timed close range finish.

Attendance: 2083

Bath Triumph following 3 red cards

With 21 yellows from 4 league matches, I should have known that the referee Paul Curry would be the dominant figure in the game. Yellows flying for any touch at all and eventually lost both midfielders. The team was placed on tenderhooks after we had collected 3 yellows, but it still didn't sate Curry's desire to blot out the match.

Bath City 3 - 1 Newport County (Blue Square South)

Bath City won this match 3 - 1 after the referee had seemingly lost control of the game and managed to brandish an amazing three red cards.

In this highly competitive encounter, Bath ended the game with nine men whilst Newport Co finished with ten players left on the pitch.

Striker Tom Lyons got Newport Co off to a flyer by scoring a close range effort on 9 minutes. Veteran centre-back Kevin Gray then equalised for Bath in the 17th minute with a towering header from close range.

Veteran midfielder Marcus Browning was sent off for persistent fouling on 51 minutes. Winger Florin Pelecaci put the home side in front in the 53rd minute with an effort from the edge of the area.

Enthusiastic midfielder Mike Perrott was sent off for persistent fouling on 61 minutes. Things went from bad to worse for Newport Co as defender Shola Oyedele earned himself an early bath for persistent fouling on 82 minutes.

Striker Kaid Mohamed completed the scoring for Bath with a placed shot on 88 minutes.

Away win against Hampton & Richmond

Our first real showing of what I know the team is capable of. We travelled to 4th placed Hampton & Richmond and, although the team was given poor odds by the bookies, we put onto the field the form we have been aiming towards. After picking up Jason Mycoe just before the Trophy game, he's settled into the squad and having an immediate impact on the wing. Jombarti, who has played on the right wing before, looked more comfortable aggressively attacking through the middle and netted a scorcher from the top of the square:

Sido Jombarti was the best player on the park during Bath's 2 - 1 Blue Square South victory over Hampton & Richmond this afternoon and the margin of victory should have been even greater.

The 22 year-old central midfielder took his goal well for Bath and generally looked lively.

Jombarti has featured on a regular basis for the Bath first-team so far this season, making sixteen appearances.

Pelecaci shines as Bath win

Been a couple of weeks settling in to the club. Picked up a league win, but suffered 2 draws and 2 losses since taking the helm. The FA Trophy looks to be the only silverware within reach now so we put in a big effort preparing for the match against Weymouth. It was a tense game with cards flying everywhere, but in the end Pelacaci's goal will be all anyone will remember. A fabulous strike from a wide cross blasted through the keeper's hands and into the corner:

Florin Pelecaci was the best player on the park during Bath's 2 - 1 English FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round victory over Weymouth this afternoon and the margin of victory should have been even greater.

The left midfielder netted the winning goal to round off his performance by scoring a powerful effort.

Pelecaci put in an impressive performance for Bath and his goal will have been the icing on the cake for the left midfielder.

Pelecaci has made seventeen appearances so far this season for City, scoring three goals.

Reset ...

Ugh. FM2010 ran out of virtual memory and died horribly ...

Loading up the save game dropped me back to unemployed status! Arrrgh!
Luckily it picked up the offer to Bath again, just this time at 18th October; one month down the track from where I was first given the job. Might do a quick scout to see if the same Backrrom staff are available as that was a the most important thing that was missed.

Morling and Fennel join up

Backroom staff position interviews have come to a close and I'm happy to announce John Morling and Stephen Fennnell to the Bath football club. John will be my right man and comes with a wealth of knowledge of both England and Irish leagues. He also runs a disciplined squad and is determined to shape up our tactics for the squad.

Stephen Fennell is our second scout and his Irish background will be invaluable to help find any budding stars fro the Emerald Isles. he's headed immediately over to Ireland for a month to see what he can rustle up.

Bath fans delight at Askham bargain buy

Thanks must go to Jim Rollo for alerting me to Lee Askam. Lee will bring a bit of flair to the wing and am glad the fans have seen the value of the deal:

Fans of Bath are reportedly delighted that manager Tony Bowes has landed the club a real bargain with the signing of right winger Lee Askham.

The recent signing has really caught the imagination of the public at Twerton Park and supporters feel the 19-year-old will prove a great piece of business.

Bath fans confident of big win

First match tomorrow and luckily it's an FA Cup qualifier against an amateur side. Time to lock in a formation and hope for the best. Fans seem to think it'll be a walk in the park. Hope it is or my stay may not be as long as I hoped ..

Paulton fans are all set to welcome Bath fans to Paulton for their English FA Cup Second Qualifying Round match.

Bath are seen as strong favourites for the match and Paulton supporters will know that they are unlikely to see an upset.

Both clubs will be doing everything they can to ensure victory.

Bowes to involve himself

First media conference to announce my position as Bath's new appointment:

Tony Bowes appeared in an equivocal mood as he met journalists for his first press conference as the new manager of Bath City.

A journalist from The Non-League Paper chose the main focus point for the conference, asking, "Handling your players effectively is a key part of the job. What will you be bringing to the man management side of the game?"

Bowes' response was, "I want every player to know that they can come to me with anything."

It is thought that there will be a mixed response from the Bath squad.

Taking a Bath .. job

Applied for numerous positions, but not even an interview. Finally I land an immediate call up to Bath as they desperately want to hang on to the hopes of playing as a professional club.

Bugger all transfer budget and an oversupply of wages already as the outgoing manager clogged up the roster in an attempt to save his job. Looks like I'll need to get out the brushcutter to clear away the deadwood before looking to improve the squad.

Backroom looks equally bleak, but at least the assistant manager's position is also vacant. Need to find someone with local knowledge that I can trust.

Arrival in England

Start of the new season and a career change I hope I'm not going to regret. Arrived in England to a drizzly day; at least the weather is staying true to form. Missing the Aussie beach already.

My agent has sent out feelers for any managerial positions of the lower league clubs. Even though I have a number of season under my belt back home, my lack of the local scene might hold me up. No matter. Starting at the bottom was what I expected anyway.

Now the wait ... (Pass me another pint?)