Bartlett delighted by draw in Bath’s ‘first proper game’

Manager Scott Bartlett was delighted by Bath City’s draw with Newport County in what he felt was his side’s first proper game of pre-season.

Bath City boss Scott Bartlett, left, with striker Reuben Reid after the 2-2 draw with Newport County on Saturday 25th July | Photo © Simon Howe

The Romans held the Exiles to a 2-2 draw in a friendly at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday 25th July but almost claimed a shock win.

Bartlett said: “We got a lot out of that game. It was a really tough game.

“We rested, from the start, quite a lot of experienced players that we were able to bring on for the second half, when we were defending the slope, or attacking the slope, whichever way you look at it.

“I thought everyone gave a good account of themselves. No injuries, played against really good opposition.

“But I thought we did more than just stay in the game. I thought we had some really good moments.

“I thought there were some really good disciplined performances against Plymouth [Argyle in a 3-0 home defeat on Saturday 18th July]. We weren’t quite good enough to create enough in that one.

“Today, I thought we got the balance right between having a good shape and being really disciplined and shutting the gaps down, making sure we weren’t open at any point.

“We knew if they were going to start dominating, they’d have to get us down the wide areas – and I always fancy us to defend crosses quite well.

“So that was pleasing from that perspective.

“I thought our goals were good. I think our second one was probably offside but there was a foul in the build-up to that that we were a bit disappointed we didn’t get.

“So I think that no-one could say we didn’t deserve to get something from the game today.

“I know it’s only pre-season but I think game on game we’ve seen a little bit of improvement.

“We’ve seen that the players are really organised.

“Sev [Seweryn Streczen] has come on today and done really well.

“So did [the trialist] who started for us wide right. He’s been here for a little while now, and he’s done excellently.

“Every time he’s trained and every time he’s played, he’s put a shift in. So I wanted to start him.”

Alex Fisher made another appearance from the bench for Bath, despite seemingly going into retirement at the end of the 2025-26 season.

And the 36-year-old – who has played on the Continent as well as in the EFL and the Scottish Premiership – is someone Bartlett wants at City.

Bartlett said: “He’s been a professional footballer for a long, long time. He looks after himself.

“I think to go from having that structure to not training at all would be difficult for someone like Alex. So we keep inviting him in, he keeps turning up, he keeps doing well.

“I’d love to have him with us because I think he’s got – not just on the pitch, but off the pitch – so much to offer the game still.

“So there’ll be some conversations to be had I’m sure, but there’s also decisions we need to make on one or two others, and we’re still looking to bring one or two into the group as well.

“We’ve got to make sure that anyone we do bring in, whether it be a young one that we think has got a lot of potential, or a more experienced player, he comes for the right reasons and really adds to the group.”

Recent treatment for fluid on the knee meant that Jack Batten was an unused substitute against Newport.

Bartlett said: “He’s got a little bit of fluid on his knee which was drained only Thursday afternoon.

“If it was a league game today, he could’ve played. But for the sake of another 72 hours before we play Melksham [Town away in a friendly on Tuesday 28th July], there was little point, especially with things [the ground] so hard.

“It gave us a chance to look at Ollie Chamberlain at right-back. I thought he did really well in midfield as well today, so his versatility is going to be key.

“It gave me a chance to look at Joe Raynes at centre-half because you can’t plan everything, and nothing works out perfectly.

“Ollie [Tomlinson] came off and Enzio [Boldewijn] went straight to right-back and did well there.

“I feel like we’ve got more options in the building, should injuries and in-game stuff happen.

“It’s still very much a work in progress. We’ve got loads to do.

“I wasn’t happy with the two goals we conceded, of course. But I think we’re in a pretty good place going into Tuesday’s game.

“I’d say today’s was the first proper game that we’ve had.

“It needs to be like that because you’ve got to be getting hold of people, you’ve got to be tackling, you’ve got to be backing people up, you’ve got to be really competitive to do well in the league we’re in.

“So if we can have another really good test in that regard on Tuesday, that’d be great.

“We do look a big, strong, powerful team, with some good legs in the team as well.

“So I’m really pleased where we are – but we’ve still got an awful lot of work to do.

“And there’s a lot to play for for the players as well because we need to make sure that everyone’s at a level where we’re really scratching our head over the starting XI on that Friday night before we go to Sholing [for the Pitching In Southern League Premier South opener on Saturday 8th August].”