Bath players named in Team of the Week

Seven of your players were selected in the Blue Square South Team of the Week first eleven, including Kyle Letheren, Jared Hodgkiss, Callum Hart, James Nash, Michael Abnett, Amadou Kouman and Dexter Ravenhill.

Another record for the club: 7 players filling out the team of the week. Unfortunately we only drew with Workington in our first FA Trophy outing, so it'll be a return match at our place to clog up the schedule even more. Usually I don't mind replays as a revenue generating exercise, but we're going through a really tough part of the season with 2 games a week for the past 4 weeks. Luckily we have the cover sorted for most of our posisitons now, and no-one important is out with injury.

Picked up another young goalkeeper, more for coverage than squad improvement. Hopefully that will have the keeping position sewn up for the next few seasons.

Seventh heaven for Bath

Bath City 7 - 1 Eastbourne Borough (Blue Square South)

The final score of 7 - 1 didn't flatter Bath City as they totally controlled their Blue Square South game against Eastbourne Borough at Twerton Park. The highlight of the game was undoubtedly a superb hat-trick from Bath's Amadou Kouman.

Midfielder Amadou Kouman gave Bath the lead with a placed shot in the 13th minute. Kouman doubled Bath's lead with a well timed close range finish on 43 minutes.

Kouman added his 3rd goal of the game with a placed shot on 51 minutes. Striker Wayne Gray then added to the lead with a powerful close range effort on 56 minutes.

Centre-back Leon Legge pulled one back for Eastbourne Boro after 60 minutes with a close range header. An error from Dan Smith allowed Gray to score a placed shot from close range. Gray added his 3rd goal of the game with a placed shot on 75 minutes.

Young full-back Matthew Carlisle completed the rout with a placed shot on 80 minutes.

Attendance: 335

Finally some fireworks in the Leaague! We've been keeping our heads above water with a couple of draws and a win or 2, but no form like the top 2 in the league. Hopefully this will take the team onward to fire up another string of wins.

Southend coast past City

Southend United 2 - 0 Bath City (FA Cup 2nd Rnd)

The underdogs of Bath City never threatened to cause an upset as they succumbed to a 2 - 0 defeat at Roots Hall. The match was certainly not one for the purists with neither side able to keep the errors out of their game.

Things did not get off to a good start for Bath as striker Francis Laurent seized on an error by Sido Jombarti to score a powerful effort. Bath were nearly gifted a goal on 60 minutes through Bondz N'Gala's lapse in concentration but they failed to capitalise on the opportunity presented to them.

Journeyman striker Dougie Freedman finally rounded off their victory on 78 minutes with a real poacher's effort.

Attendance: 4633

Always knew it would be a struggle against a Div1 team, but at least we got the cash injection from playing a well supported club. 50K extra just chopped our debt by 1/3.

Bath take their chances

Bromley 1 - 4 Bath City (FA Cup 4th Rnd Qual.)

Bromley succumbed to a 4 - 1 loss in this afternoon's English FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying clash at Hayes Lane. The highlight of the game was undoubtedly a superb hat-trick from Bath's Clyde Wijnhard.

The match began in controversial circumstances as Bath were denied claims by Clyde Wijnhard for a penalty. Wijnhard gave Bath the lead with a powerful close range effort in the 18th minute.

Winger Alistair John then equalised for Bromley in the 35th minute with a well executed finish. Then followed controversy as Bromley were denied claims by John for a penalty.

Striker Efe Echanomi then put the away side in front after 79 minutes with a placed shot from close range. Another goal was added when Wijnhard scored with a screamer from the edge of the area in the 83rd minute.

There were no prizes for guessing who completed the rout on 89 minutes as that man Wijnhard popped up again with a powerful effort.

Attendance: 414

Great game for Wijnhard. Each goal in his hat-trick was hard and low, giving the keeper virtually no chance. He was picked up as a strong target man for the crosses, but it seems his strength also adds to the power of his shots. Mighty impressed!

We're holding steady in the league just above the bulge, but these performances in the cup are going to get us a better monetary return. This year we'll focus on getting as far into the cup as possible, then a hopeful playoff spot in the league.

Kouman on form as Bath score easy victory

A display of attacking football saw Amadou Kouman pick up the man of the match award during Bath's convincing 3 - 0 English FA Cup Second Qualifying Round victory over Bashley this afternoon.

The 24 year-old attacking midfielder took his goal well for Bath and generally looked lively.

Kouman, who joined City from AFC Wimbledon in 2009, is not one of the club's top earners but may still find his position under threat should the club's reported financial crisis worsen.

Stumbling a bit in the league, so beating up on an amateur team was just what the doctor ordered to get the confidence back in the team.

Quality finishing the difference at Twerton Park

Bath City 5 - 2 Havant & Waterlooville (Blue Square South)

Havant & Waterlooville succumbed to a 5 - 2 loss in this afternoon's Blue Square South clash at Twerton Park. The highlight of the game was undoubtedly a superb hat-trick from Bath's Kaid Mohamed.

Striker Kaid Mohamed got Bath off to a flyer by scoring a powerful effort on 7 minutes. Midfielder Amadou Kouman doubled Bath's lead with a powerful effort from the edge of the area on 9 minutes.

Mohamed added another with a powerful effort from the edge of the area in the 12th minute. Mohamed was able to keep his composure to score from the spot after Hinshelwood gave away a penalty. Striker Luke Nightingale pulled one back for Havant & W after 46 minutes with a placed shot.

Kouman added another with a real poacher's effort in the 49th minute. Nightingale reduced Havant & W's deficit on 62 minutes with a placed shot but it was merely consolation.

Attendance: 585

3 monster wins in a row now and 2nd overall on the ladder. Lost Gray from the central defence position with a mungged face, so I'm scrambling to find a replacement. Luckily the net at the other end is the one being filled.

Newport Co hammered by Bath

Bath City 4 - 0 Newport County (Blue Square South)

The final score of 4 - 0 didn't flatter Bath City as they totally controlled their Blue Square South game against Newport County at Twerton Park.

Bath finally took the lead when journeyman striker Clyde Wijnhard scored a fine header from point-blank range on 41 minutes. Full-back Matt Smith compounded the misery for Newport Co on 45 minutes with an embarrassing own-goal.

Mohamed scored with a placed shot in the 61st minute to extend the lead further. Midfielder Amadou Kouman completed the rout with a placed shot on 72 minutes.

Attendance: 473

2nd game of season 2010/11 and we've got the goal problems of last season out of the way. Unfortunately we lost 4-3 in a thriller away to Basingstoke in the season opener, but 7 goals in 2 games makes me smile (and brings the crowds)

England in control as Spain are brushed aside

England 1 - 0 Spain (World Cup Final)

England battled to a deserved 1 - 0 (won after extra time) victory over Spain on a fine afternoon in their World Cup Final game at Soccer City.

Hargreaves had no trouble in scoring from the spot when Fàbregas conceded a penalty.

England maintained a high pass completion rate which allowed them to keep possession, and created a greater number of chances at goal.

Attendance: 87600

England skipped past France and Argentina through penalties to make the final of the World Cup. In a pretty spiteful affair with no real attacking flair, England gets up in extra time to win the cup!

Penalty practice saves England's bacon

England 1 - 1 Australia (World Cup 2nd Rnd)

(England won 5-3 on penalties)

England did just enough to see off Australia's challenge in the Second Round match at Loftus.

Legendary midfielder Frank Lampard gave England the lead with a powerful freekick in the 30th minute. Australia's equaliser came through Tim Cahill as he seized on Michael Carrick's mistake to score a powerful penalty. In the shootout that followed it was left to legendary midfielder Steven Gerrard to keep a cool head and smash home the winning penalty for England.

Attendance: 49598

Well the boys did us proud. 2 wins against top 10 teams and goals in every game. Couldn't have asked for more than that I guess. Once the game went to penalties it seemed inevitable that England were going to come away with the win. We just don't have the quality and experience for such a high pressure penalty shootout. Now it's time to cheer on England. See if they can take it all the way.

Australia in smash-and-grab win

Brazil 0 - 1 Australia (World Cup Grp E)

Australia beat Brazil in a brilliant and well-deserved 1 - 0 victory after they worked hard throughout the match.

Tireless midfielder Tim Cahill got Australia off to a flyer by scoring a good header from just inside the six-yard box on 4 minutes. Then followed controversy as Australia were denied claims by striker Scott McDonald for a penalty.

Things went from bad to worse for Brazil as Brazil captain Lúcio earned himself an early bath for ungentlemanly conduct on 73 minutes.

Brazil could have had a harder time of it but their opponents seemed keen to waste possession by shooting from long range.

Attendance: 45553

First corner of the game had Bresciano pick out Cahill in the box to score. Next followed 85 minutes of prayers as we held off the Brazilian talent. Seemed an unlikely scenario after the Ivory Coast pasting, but we're out of the pool stage for the first time ever!

Australia stun Czech Republic

Czech Republic 0 - 1 Australia (World Cup Grp E)

Australia upset the odds with a surprise victory over Czech Republic.

Australia finally took the lead when midfielder Mark Bresciano scored a placed shot on 53 minutes. Czech Republic also saw their 79th minute strike questionably chalked off.

Czech Republic may well look back on the number of shots they took from long range and rue their decisions, as they often proved wasteful.

Attendance: 47592

We got hammered against Ivory coast in our first outing, but good followup by Bresciano off a Cahill drive at goal netted the only score against the Czechs. Ivory coast also went on to beat Brazil, so it's turning out to be a tough group.

Next up, Brazil. Another win and we're through.

Bowes signs new deal with Bath

Bath's manager Tony Bowes has put pen to paper on a 1 year contract extension.

The thirty-seven year old is now set to extend his stay at the club until June 2011.

Bowes had 2 months to run on his existing contract before agreeing the new deal.

Finished off the season in 15th after reaching 10th right before the end. A horror final run had us plying the top 5 teams to put us in a poor mood, then a 0-4 drubbing from St.Albans rubbed in the grit. I was thinking that it might have put my contract renewal on hold, but it looks like I get another go for a season-long push.

Most of the chaff can be cleared away from the roster over the holidays, so that'll make way for some quality to get us up next season. Brought in a couple of new kids right at the death of the season (not that it helped, but they are eager youngsters for the future) and am now waiting on a couple of veterans to look at their inbox.

Out of the Cup

Made it to the 4th round of the FA Trophy and managed to keep Luton to a 1-1 all draw at our place, but they turned on the style in the reverse match. Harty is the newest addition to the squad, a solid goalkeeper found in Ireland. He's had an immediate influence on the team and we've enjoyed a run of 10 league games without loss. Still in mid-table though...

Luton Town 2 - 0 Bath City (FA Trophy 4th Rnd)

Bath City failed to cause an upset at Kenilworth Road as Luton Town coasted to an expected 2 - 0 victory.

Experienced striker Steve Basham gave Luton the lead with a well timed close range finish in the 14th minute. Then followed controversy as Luton were denied claims by young striker Ryan Charles for a penalty.

Striker Tom Craddock finally rounded off their victory on 85 minutes with a good header from just inside the six-yard box.

Attendance: 3843

Another reset ...

Played on for a month or so, but lost the lot in another crash from running out of virtual memory. Going to have to save every week ...
Starting up again and there's a patch on the way down. Hope if fixes the leaks.

City improve to smash Seagulls

New Year's Day celebrations were ours on the field as we returned to form over Weston-super-Mare. Been a bit of an awkward spell over the last couple of matches. No real focus on our core task and no real way to shake them out of it. We lost Browning for the rest of the season with a hip injury, which might end up being the last he'll play. The search now will be for a replacement in midfield with an eye for passing to fill the gap.

We had slumped back to 19th after getting up as far as 13th, but a tight grouping of teams means this win has taken us back to 15th:

Bath City have beaten Weston-super-Mare 3 - 0 to record their first win in the Blue Square South for four games.

City's much-needed win put on hold any fears of dropping into a relegation dogfight and will provide hope that this will signal a turn around in their fortunes and present a more respectable position in the top half.