Goals galore as Bath and Hartlepool draw

Hartlepool United 3 - 3 Bath City (FA Cup 1st Rnd)

As fans left Victoria Park they will no doubt have agreed that neither team deserved to lose this game.

In an enthralling match which saw both sides throw caution to the wind, it was football which was ultimately the winner.

Striker Billy Paynter gave Bath the lead with a powerful close range effort in the 29th minute. Striker Adam Boyd then equalised for Hartlepool in the 44th minute with a powerful effort. An error from Christopher Ramsey allowed striker James Brown to score a diving header from within the six-yard box.

Full-back Jared Hodgkiss then equalised for Bath in the 77th minute with a real poacher's effort. Veteran striker Clyde Wijnhard then put the away side in front after 82 minutes with a well timed close range finish.

The Bath fans might have hoped that Wijnhard had scored the winner but it was not to be. With Hartlepool staring at defeat, there was controversy as Boyd then had a penalty shout turned down.

With Bath already beginning to celebrate, striker Adam Boyd scored a powerful effort from the edge of the area in injury-time to snatch the equaliser for Hartlepool. Better late than never for Hartlepool and the fans were clearly delighted with Boyd's impact.

Attendance: 3596

After cruising past Dag & Red in the FA Cup qualifier, we were hoping to be drawn against a lower team, or a home game against a larger team from div1. We got nothing; drawn away to Hartlepool.

Went in with hopes of an early goal to fit into the countering strategy we've been working on, and Paynter delivered on queue. From then on the game opened up and there were chances raining down from everywhere. They finally draw level and then go ahead through a Brown's header. Up until that moment he'd been playing out of sorts so maybe the comments about him being the main threat had put him off.

We get a lot of open space in their half when we get the ball, but nothing's going in. Finally a run down the left from Kouman opened up the field. Pressured into the corner he managed to turn it back to the top of the square where Murray kept it going to Hodgekiss. A neat channel opened up in front of Jared and he powered it into the opposite corner of the net. We're level. Happy.

Hartlepoool pull out the stops, but it opens up their defense even more and another blazing Kouman run down the left is matched by 5 red shirts running for the box. Kouman picked out Paynter with the cross inside the box, who deftly passed it off to Wijnhaard right in front to score! 3-2! 5 minutes to go! COME ON BOYS!

We're hunkered down hard, but an amazing blast from Boyd pierces through from 30 yards with under a minute to go. It finishes a tie at 3 all, but we're happy enough and the fans on both sides were buzzing.

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.