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.