Bath beat Bradford in thrilling encounter

Both teams served up a game to remember as Bath City came out on top in this 4 - 3 goal-fest.

One pundit commented that this match should be taped and shown to any doubters of the beautiful game.

Striker Zoltán Harsányi gave Bradford the lead with a close range header in the 12th minute. An error from Gavin Hoyte allowed striker Jermaine Easter to score a real poacher's effort. Harsányi added his 2nd goal of the game with a placed shot on 39 minutes.

Young striker Vincent Adelaar pulled one back for Bath after 50 minutes with a placed shot. An error from Steve Williams allowed veteran centre-back Marek Nikl to score a good header from just inside the six-yard box. Striker Billy Paynter then equalised for Bath in the 69th minute with a powerful close range effort.

Striker Richard Offiong then clinched a late winner for the home side on 86 minutes with a powerful effort. Offiong's impact delighted the fans with his late goal.

With Bradford staring at defeat, there was controversy as midfielder Stephen O'Leary then had a penalty shout turned down.

Attendance: 2168

After our great start to the season, we left Charlton 1-2 down and out of the League Cup. As a Coca Cola Championship team it was always going to be tough getting a goal was about all we could ask for. We also fell to another 1-2 result on the Weekend with Gillingham taking the points.


Bradford was our first home game opponent and they were inn ominous form. It's depressinng to look ove rtheir roster as the talent they have justifies their odds on favouritism for the win. We knuckle down and attempt to keep it tight, but Zoltán makes an immediate impact and we're down in the first 15 minutes. By 1/2 time we're 0-3 down but just losing out to player brilliance.

In the sheds the boys got a spray. First home game, come on lads! Division 2, come on lads! If we don't go out there and at least peg a couple back we may as well go scampering back to conference. We get 2 back prety easily and we certainly have the run of the game as Bradford attempt to coast home. I'm happy, but there's still a lot of time on the clock. Offiong gets injected a little earlier than I planned, but his pace made an impact at the back. Paynter was the man to make the equaliser though as he latched onto one of the many crosses peppering the square.

With the game all square, Bradford come out of their shell and attack hard. We, too, are after more than a draw and finally it's Offiong's speed that allows him to break down the left at pace and place in a delightful shot to give us the 4-3 lead. They throw the lot at us, but it's a dream 2nd half for us and we won't be denied our comeback victory!

Us? dead and buried? NEVER!

City cruise to historic 2 - 0 victory

Tranmere Rovers 0 - 2 Bath City (Coca-Cola League 2)

A deserved 2 - 0 win for Bath City over Tranmere Rovers this afternoon was greeted with delight by the victorious team's fans and players alike.

The first noteworthy incident of the match proved to be controversial, with Bath seeing a goal disallowed. Then followed controversy as Tranmere were denied claims by striker Josh Macauley for a penalty. An error from Lee Molyneux allowed striker Billy Paynter to score a powerful effort.

Veteran centre-back Marek Nikl completed the scoring for Bath with a towering header from close range on 57 minutes.

Attendance: 5436

Looking over the squads in Division 2, it looked like there was a lot of work too be done on the squad. We already had 3 coming in at the July transfer window, but needed a whole squad revamp to keep us in the professional league. Luckily the board have also opened up some of the restrictions and we picked up another 4 coaches to keep the team in shape.

After the holidays, the dressing room had a nervous tension as the dream settled into reality. Nervous, too, for the new members on trial while we worked through th pre-season. In all, 4 long term loaners have joined us along with 5 new players that seem up to the division 2 pace.

Our first game of the league started a 3 game away run that also included our first foray into the league cup. Tranmere. The scouts tell us that the team average wage is 3 times our, but is still on the low side for division 2. The punters also have us leaving without a point at 4-1 against.

The game started well with a new 4-2-2-2 formation to help utilise an overabundance of strikers. We're playing tight, but breaking out to the wings when we have the ball. The speed of Vincent Adelaar and Antonio German helped us get a lot of good ball crossing into the centre. With a packed centre, it gets a bit rough and we lose out on a good penalty claim. Lots of corners too, and we get our 2nd corner into the back of the net through a good near post poke by Paynter. Nikl, our tall Czech defender, heads in another corner after 1/2 time and it seems all too easy.

We're off to a flyer and a great step toward fitting in with the pros.

Bath win in Blue Square Premier Playoff Final

Bath City 2 - 1 Aldershot Town (Blue Square Premier Playoff Final)

Bath City won a hard fought battle against Aldershot Town on a fine spring afternoon at Wembley. A brace from Amadou Kouman helped Bath to victory.

Midfielder Amadou Kouman got Bath off to a flyer by scoring a placed shot on 6 minutes. Kouman doubled Bath's lead with a placed shot on 17 minutes.

Aldershot also saw their 22nd minute strike questionably chalked off. Striker Danny Hylton managed to grab the consolation for Aldershot in the 65th minute with a powerful close range effort.

Attendance: 38817

We managed to hold out for a 0-1 scoreline against Kettering to take the semi-final into extra time. With our squad riddled with injuries and spent from the FA Trophy, we hobbled around the pitch hoping for the coin toss of penalties. Goal chances are few and far between, so off to penalties we go! Letheren saves one and we make it through. Luckily there's a week to rest up before the finals.

Kouman comes out of the blocks firing and nails 2 into the back of the net. It feels like the AM pattern is running well, so we exploit the middle and hope for more. Many chances, but nothing else goes in for us. We look pretty comfortable at 1/2 time and seem to have their measure. Aldershot finally blast one through in the 2nd half, but we are still getting more solid chances than they are.

With 5 minutes to go we shut up shop and hope they don't strike it lucky. The game fizzles toward a 2-1 win to us. We're going up to Division 2, but memories of our FA Trophy defeat are still fresh in our minds. Seems like we got something out of this month, but not entirely what we were expecting. Hopefully the achievement will sink in more through the coming days.

May is going to be fantastic for the budget. The Kettering semi final leg at Twerton Park broke $75K, then 2 apppearances at wembley brought in another 500K to double our total gate receipts for the year. We now have a healthy cash position to help us buy up for the entry into the professional league.

Bath powerless to resist as Rushden dominate

Bath City 1 - 3 Rushden & Diamonds (FA Trophy Final)

Bath City were on the end of a deserved defeat at Wembley as they were completely outplayed by their opponents. A brace from Raymond Putterill helped Rushden to victory.

The match began in controversy with Rushden seeing a goal disallowed in controversial circumstances. Rushden also saw their 20th minute strike questionably chalked off.

Rushden finally took the lead when winger Raymond Putterill scored a well timed close range finish on 43 minutes. Putterill doubled Rushden's lead with a powerful close range effort on 46 minutes.

Striker Billy Paynter gave the Bath fans a glimmer of hope after 64 minutes with a powerful effort. Full-back Curtis Osano completed the scoring for Rushden with a screamer from the edge of the area on 73 minutes.

Young winger Jack Boyle then summed up his team's performance by nearly gifting Rushden another goal on 83 minutes.

Attendance: 24069

Powerless sounds about right. Rushden has been dominant this season and finished well clear on top of the table. Our last encounter with them ended badly, and with tired legs going into this match, it wasn't looking like we had many options. By 1/2 time we were still in the game on the scoreboard, but they had the majority of posession and shots on goal.

The fans left despondant after the final whistle as it wasn't a pretty game. Most seem to forget that it was far above our expectations of even getting to the final, let alone be in a promotion playoff that had caused the match congestion.

At least we're still in with a shot at the playoffs. Our 3-2 lead in the first leg of the semis over Kettering only 3 days before the FA Trophy caused our lack of sting, but hopefullyy we can keep it together in the return leg to make it to the finals.

Fans jubilant after Dover result

Supporter spokesperson Darren Kean feels the fans are delighted with Bath's convincing 3 - 0 Blue Square Premier victory over Dover.

Darren believes the fans were pleased with how much more dangerous the team looked in the final third of the pitch.

Particularly impressive were players like James Nash, Jack Boyle and Billy Paynter and they quite rightly look to be keeping the likes of Florin Pelecaci, Jason Mycoe and Lewis Guy out of the side.

Lukins physio report

David Lukins has reported that Christopher Ramsey has suffered a pulled hamstring after the central defender attempted a sprint during the match against Dover.

Lukins advises you that Ramsey will be treated at the club. It is likely that Ramsey will be out for between 5 weeks and 6 weeks whilst he is treated.

David Lukins has reported that central defender James Nash has sustained a gashed arm following a strong challenge during the match against Dover.

Lukins advises you that Nash will be treated at the club. It is likely that Nash will be out for around 6 days whilst he is treated.

David Lukins has reported that left-back Matthew Dolan has suffered a bruised rib following an accidental collision during the match against Dover.

Lukins has indicated in his report that loanee Matthew Dolan's injury will be treated by the club's medical staff.

Lukins recommends we then reassess the player's medical status once he has recovered. It is likely that Dolan will be out for between 11 days and 2 weeks whilst he is treated.

We have our playoff spot, but at a price.

The Rushden game turned out as we feared, a brace of 2 goals in the first 10 minutes sunk us and we never looked like getting them back. Letheren, our tireless goalkeeper, had performed well throughout the season and I was mulling over giving him some of the spotlight, but this game ended badly for him. Cambridge also lost, so that kept them below us, but Histon also pulled within a point of us going into the last round. We held 5th outright, so all we had to do was win at home ...

Nash got us off to a great start by putting in a far post header, but went down with a gash to his arm. As I was contemplating a replacement, Dolan (playing at left back) is stretchered off from a collision. Ouch! Edwards headed out to replace Dolan while Nash had to persevere out there for the time being.

1/2 hour into the game and we're costing at 3-0 up, but Ramsay goes down with a pulled hammy. My back line is decimated! Ramsay plugs on for abit, but he doesn't recover and is eventually subbed out. Carlisle get the job of filling in the DC position as he's at least played defensively. It feels like we're going to bleed goals though.

The final whistle blows and we have kept our 3-0 lead mainly due to Dover's lacklustre firepower up front. We have the win we needed, but only 1 proper DC left in the shed for the playoffs.

Getting tight at the top

Bath City 3 - 0 York City (Blue Square Premier)

An efficient performance from Bath saw them run out 3 - 0 winners over York City at Twerton Park. A brace from Jack Boyle helped Bath to victory.

Young winger Jack Boyle gave Bath the lead with a real poacher's effort in the 27th minute. Boyle doubled Bath's lead with a fine header from point-blank range on 53 minutes.

Winger Michael D'Agostino completed the rout with a well timed close range finish on 90 minutes.

Attendance: 636

After walking away with a solid victory against York, we found ourselves in 3rd on the ladder as Crawley faltered. It's close. Real close. 1 point separating 3rd to 6th. Any spot in the playoffs would be fine as Rushden have sealed the championship.

2 more games to go. An away game against a jubilant Rushdent looks ominous, but that will be followed with a home game against cellar-dwellers Dover. All I need is for one to lose both remaining games and we're through.

Bath win in FA Trophy Semi Final

Bath are through to the Final after a 3 - 0 aggregate win over Aldershot at Twerton Park.

City fans will be absolutely ecstatic that their team have beaten all the odds to book their place in the English FA Trophy Final and the chance to test themselves against Rushden.

The rollercoaster of results isn't slowing down. Mammoth wins followed by a disappointing 0-4 loss to Cambridge in a battle for position. We switched off to save something for the 2nd leg of the semis as the 1-0 lead seemed slender with our recent performances.

Payneter signalled what mood the team was in on the 4 minute mark with a great positional turn-and-shoot. 4 minutes later we're 2-0 up and coasting. They tried to put the pressure back on us in the 2nd half while we take a breather, but it's just our day and we have it all covered. Snowy pitch sappped everyone's strength and the end petered out into the mud.

We're through. Job done.

Six of the best for Bath

Bath City 6 - 0 Wrexham (Blue Square Premier)

The final score of 6 - 0 didn't flatter Bath City as they totally controlled their Blue Square Premier game against Wrexham at Twerton Park. A brace from Billy Paynter helped Bath to victory.

Striker Billy Paynter got Bath off to a flyer by scoring a placed shot on 2 minutes. Guy had no trouble in scoring from the spot when Obeng conceded a penalty. Murray scored with a powerful effort in the 20th minute to extend the lead further. An error from Michael Jackson allowed Paynter to score a powerful effort.

Broomfield then increased Bath's advantage further with a powerful effort on 50 minutes. There were no prizes for guessing who completed the rout on 89 minutes as that man Broomfield popped up again with a placed shot.

Attendance: 624

After playing a rematch vs Chester to win through to the FA Trophy semis, we didn't have enough in the tank for Grays Athletic. We lost 0-3 and never looked in the game. With more FA Trophy matches clogging up the schedule, I pulled in another 2 loans; Seb Broomfield as a cover for our overworked strikers, and Matthew Dolan as left back and cover for our central defenders.

Both put in great performances dispite their lack of fitness and lack of preparation, but it was Paynter and Murray that really got the show on the road. Lots of direct chances, and it could easily have been more. By 1/2 time I let the guys rest it up as we had 4 in the bag and a busy week ahead.

Seventh heaven for Bath

Basingstoke Town 1 - 7 Bath City (FA Trophy 3rd Rnd)

The final score of 7 - 1 didn't flatter Bath City as they totally controlled their English FA Trophy Third Round game against Basingstoke Town at The Camrose. The game will be remembered for a remarkable display of goalscoring from Bath's Billy Paynter.

Young goalkeeper Nick Liversedge was left red-faced in the 6th minute as he managed to put the ball into his own net. Striker Jahson Downes then equalised for Basingstoke in the 24th minute with a powerful effort.

Striker Billy Paynter then put the away side in front after 30 minutes with a real poacher's effort. Guy scored with a placed shot in the 36th minute to extend the lead further. An error from Tom Williamson allowed Paynter to score a powerful effort.

Murray then increased Bath's advantage further with a screamer from well outside the area on 58 minutes. Paynter scored from the penalty spot after Lynch gave away a penalty. There were no prizes for guessing who completed the rout on 75 minutes as that man Paynter popped up again with a powerful effort.

Attendance: 281

After being bundled out in the 1st round of the FA Cup, all attention has turned to the minor FA Trophy on offer before we graduate from the conference. Played a couple of tough games, but 3rd round matchup saw us playing away to Blue Square South's Basingstoke.

Started with the standard formation, but noticed some clean runs down the right and a lot of headers going our way. We focus down the right with Kouman giving support in a right-minded channel. The goals started to pour in so we relaxed and hunkered down. Well sort of. Paynter kept getting balls within 10 yards of the box and knew exactly what to do with it. Everyone enjoyed themselves and I felt sorry subbinng off the veterans so they are fresh for the mid-week game.

7-1. Schellacking.