Derby woe for City but Larks and Odd Down revel in festive cheer

Round-up of the Boxing Day and Saturday 27th December football action.

Owen Windsor lashes in Bath City’s opening goal in the Boxing Day derby at Chippenham Town | Photo © Simon Howe

Bath City suffered late agony yet again as they crashed to a miserable defeat at bottom club Chippenham Town on Boxing Day in Enterprise National League South.

This time a goal in the fifth minute of injury-time condemned Darren Way’s team to a 3-2 loss to a Bluebirds side who had won only two previous games in the league this season.

Romans’ boss Way, whose first game in charge of the club was at Chippenham exactly a year earlier, said: “Extremely disappointed. You can imagine the dressing room, the way they feel now.

“I thought we did really well to get the game back to 2-2, a little bit of individual brilliance from Jordan Alves [to score the equaliser], and then you’re thinking there’s probably enough in the team in terms of experience to not concede a goal late on.

“Unfortunately that’s seven times it’s probably happened [conceding] with two minutes to go, so there’s a lot of thinking in terms of the group collectively – accountability, leaders in the group, being able to see those moments out, because that’s probably been the difference of the season.”

Jordan Alves celebrates with Jaiden Putman after netting Bath City’s injury-time leveller at Chippenham Town. But the Bluebirds snatched a last-gasp winner | Photo © Simon Howe

Of the experienced Harry Pell being forced out of the game through injury in the 34th minute, Way said: “He’s a leader and you can feel his presence. I felt when he came off the pitch we looked a little bit disjointed with our shape and the way we were playing because he’s a real big presence.”

City opened the scoring in the 14th minute at The Thornbury Surfacing Stadium, Owen Windsor bursting forward from the left and firing past Town keeper Will Henry to the delight of travelling fans in the crowd of 1,731.

And it was almost 2-0 four minutes later. Brad Ash knocked the ball into the box, Henry parried and Matt Bowman’s attempt to bury the loose ball was cleared at the expense of a corner.

But Chippenham could have got back on terms in the 22nd minute. Bath gloveman Harvey Wiles-Richards tipped behind an effort from Billy Phillips – and from the resulting flag-kick, Jake Evans shot narrowly wide.

However, the hosts did equalise in the 39th minute. Evans put the ball into the box, Harry Parsons shot and the ball went into the net via Canice Carroll.

And a minute into the second period, Town were awarded a penalty for what the referee ruled was a foul by Jack Batten on Sol Wanjau-Smith. Parsons sent Wiles-Richards the wrong way from the spot and the Wiltshire side were in front.

Wanjau-Smith almost made it 3-1 on the hour, his 18-yard drive flashing narrowly wide.

City had two penalty shouts turned down by the referee before, five minutes from the end, the hosts’ Caine Bradbury sent in a shot that was parried by Wiles-Richards and then cleared off the line.

The Romans appeared to have snatched a point when substitute Alves – who came on for Pell – drilled in a 25-yard free-kick in the first minute of injury-time.

But there was another twist in the derby as Anointed Chukwu struck the close-range decider following a free-kick from Bradbury.

The result meant Bath dropped to 18th place in the table – and Chippenham closed the gap on penultimate club Eastbourne Borough to three points.

Way said: “It’s really important the players reflect on themselves now, individually and collectively, and just be ready to put on a big performance against Torquay [United at home in the league on Tuesday 30th December].

“I knew this season wasn’t going to be easy, it’s a very demanding league.”

Bath: Harvey Wiles-Richards, Joe Raynes, Dan Greenslade, Jack Batten, Kieran Parselle, Brad Ash, Jordan Tillson, Luke Russe (Mitch Beardmore, 71), Matt Bowman (Jaiden Putman, 71), Owen Windsor, Harry Pell (Jordan Alves, 34). Unused subs: Charlie Binns, Louis Sweeten, Owen Pritchard, Manny Yeboah.

City’s league match at Maidenhead United has been rearranged for Tuesday 3rd February (7.45pm). It was originally due to be played on Saturday 10th January, but Bath will be involved in the Isuzu FA Trophy that afternoon.

Larkhall Athletic soared into a 3-0 lead in their derby with Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday 27th December but were left hanging on for a 3-2 success.

The victory at the Camella Stadium was the second in two games for the Larks’ stand-in manager John Durbin and lifted them into ninth place in Pitching In Southern League Division One South.

Kieran Phillips wheels away after putting Larkhall Athletic 2-0 up against Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday 27th December | Photo © Phil Scovell

Athletic went ahead in the 26th minute, when Kieran Phillips headed home from close range.

Phillips made it 2-0 three minutes later – and when Dawid Regula struck the third goal, eight minutes into the second half, a home win seemed assured.

But Manor Farm reduced the arrears in the 56th minute, Kian Hill making a great run past several Larkhall players and firing beyond home keeper Liam Armstrong from 18 yards.

Hill almost scored again seven minutes later, shooting just over, but the visitors ensured a grandstand finale when they made it 3-2 with seven minutes remaining, substitute Jack Karadogan on target from a goalmouth melee.

The derby was watched by a crowd of 355.

Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Jeff Forkuo, Spencer Dymond-Hall, Sam Boulton, Lewis Graham, Will Banks, Alex Camm, Jack Camm, Kieran Phillips, Milo Murgatroyd, Dawid Regula.

Meanwhile, applications for the role of Larkhall first-team manager closed at 5pm on Monday 29th December.

Odd Down won for the first time since Saturday 8th November when they overcame Keynsham Town 3-0 on Boxing Day in Jewson Western League Division One.

Victory was the Down’s first in six matches across all competitions, that run also having seen them pick up a point against Cheddar on Saturday 22nd November, lose three times in the league and bow out of the Francis Hillier Premier Cup.

But everything came together in the festive derby at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground.

In front of a crowd of 90, Jack Paul gave Odd Down a 24th-minute lead.

Nicholas Taylor added the second goal 10 minutes after the break – and Charlie Saunders sealed the win by netting seven minutes from the end.

Odd Down starting XI: Matthew Green, Jack Kelsey, Jack Paul, Josh Hewlett, Joe Paradise, Lewis Bahadur, Treyvond Anderson, Robert Hobbs, Nicholas Taylor, Alfie Kelsey, Charlie Saunders.

Larkhall Athletic Development suffered a surprise defeat at Corsham-based Park United on Saturday 27th December.

The Larks were beaten 2-0 and are 10 points behind Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division leaders Shrewton United, but with a game in hand.

Adam Mitchell and substitute Aaron Ledgister got the goals for Park, who started the day three points clear of the drop zone.

Larkhall said that the opening goal, in the first half, was against the run of play but the hosts came strong and deserved their victory.

Forthcoming fixtures:

Tuesday 30th December:

• Enterprise National League South: Bath City v Torquay United (7.45pm).

Saturday 3rd January:

• Enterprise National League South: Bath City v Ebbsfleet United (3pm).
• Pitching In Southern League Division One South: Melksham Town v Larkhall Athletic (3pm).
• Jewson Western League Division One: Hengrove Athletic v Odd Down (3pm).
• Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Fountain Trophies Senior Cup: Larkhall Athletic Development v Faringdon Town Development (3pm).
• Trophies of Radstock Mid Somerset League Division One: Odd Down Development v Chew Magna Reserves (2pm).

Sunday 4th January:

• Shield Services Group South West Regional Women’s League: Downend Flyers v Bath City Women (2pm).
• Somerset County Women’s League Division One: Bridport Women v Bath City Women Development (2pm).
• Somerset County Women’s League Division Two: Odd Down Women v Bishops Lydeard Ladies Reserves (2pm).

Wednesday 7th January:

• Pitching In Southern League Division One South: Tavistock v Larkhall Athletic (7.45pm).