A triple substitution with 27 minutes remaining almost brought Bath City an unlikely draw in their Enterprise National League South clash with Dover Athletic on Saturday 16th August.
Alex Fisher scores for Bath City against Dover Athletic on Saturday 16th August | Photo © Simon Howe
Missed chances proved costly for the Romans as they found themselves trailing 2-0 to the promoted Kent side at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park.
But boss Darren Way brought on Mitch Beardmore, Alex Fisher and Brad Ash for Ewan Clark, Scott Wilson and Jack Batten respectively in a bold attempt to take something from his club’s first home match of the campaign.
The trio’s arrival brought new energy and confidence to Bath, who raised their game but could muster only one goal – from Fisher in the 80th minute – and lost 2-1.
Playing up the slope in the first half, the home team wanted a penalty in the second minute when the ball hit the arm of Dover’s Roman Charles-Cook in the box. But referee Sam Read was unmoved.
Bath City’s Alex Fisher celebrates after halving Dover Athletic’s lead | Photo © Simon Howe
Seven minutes later, the impressive Will Jenkins Davies crossed but the perfectly placed Dan Greenslade was unable to connect.
Wilson headed wide from five yards in the 16th minute – and seconds later, Joe Raynes’ low drive from 18 yards was pushed behind by Whites’ keeper Mitch Walker.
Luke Russe lashed narrowly wide from the edge of the box after 20 minutes. And Bath had a great opportunity seven minutes later. Jenkins Davies crossed and Walker blocked at Clark’s feet. The ball fell to Wilson, who fired wide.
The Romans went agonisingly close in the 42nd minute. Dover failed to cut out a ball from Batten, letting in Wilson. But his shot whizzed inches wide of the far post.
It was not until first-half injury-time that the guests had a serious attempt on goal, Luca Cocoracchio shooting wide from 25 yards.
Walker claimed a six-yard header from Clark two minutes into the second period.
The impressive Will Jenkins Davies in possession for Bath City against Dover Athletic. Dan Greenslade is in support | Photo © Simon Howe
But Dover – last season’s Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division play-off winners – stunned Bath and home fans in the crowd of 976 by going ahead in the 49th minute. Francis Mampolo crossed and Ruben Soares-Junior headed past City gloveman Harvey Wiles-Richards from six yards.
The Romans hit back, Russe’s effort being blocked on the line by Dover’s Jalen Jones in the 59th minute.
But Athletic looked to have sewn up the points when they struck again, in the 61st minute. A slip by Russe enabled Mampolo to get clear, and he chipped Wiles-Richards to make it 2-0.
Ash had been on the pitch only two minutes when he hit the bar. And almost immediately he fired over from 15 yards. It was clear that Bath were anything but dead and buried.
Raynes slammed the ball against a post in the 73rd minute and, four minutes later, City again appealed for a penalty, this time after Alfie Matthews appeared to handle a cross. But again Read saw no misdemeanour.
Ash burst into the box in the 79th minute, only for his angled drive to be held by Walker.
But it was not long before the Romans cut the deficit, Jenkins Davies crossing and Fisher sweeping the ball home from seven yards.
It was almost 2-2 in the 84th minute. Beardmore set up Jenkins Davies, but the ball was knocked off his feet by a defender.
And in the seven minutes of injury-time, Russe released Ash, whose shot was cleared at the expense of a corner.
Way said: “It’s got to be the most frustrating game that I’ve been involved with since I’ve been at Bath City.
“Extremely disappointed not to score in the first half, and then you find yourself 2-0 down and you’re looking at how many opportunities we created.
“I think there was 19 shots on target, we had 30 box entries, so we have to take ownership of that and responsibility, and make sure that if we create that amount of chances we’ve got to do more collectively as a team to score and punish teams.
“I want this group of players to be successful. It’s really important that you don’t just point the finger at one individual – it’s easy to say it’s the strikers – but we have to collectively take responsibility.”
Bath: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Tomlinson (Matthews, 90), Batten (Ash, 63), Parselle, Jenkins Davies, Wilson (Fisher, 63), Clark (Beardmore, 63), Tillson, Russe. Subs: Horsell (not used), Sweeten (not used).
City return to National League South action on Tuesday 19th August, when they visit Salisbury (7.45pm).
Tickets are available at https://www.salisburyfc.co.uk/tickets/
The Wiltshire outfit go into the game with an unbeaten record in the league, having played out goal-less draws with Hampton & Richmond Borough and Dagenham & Redbridge.
