After the euphoria of climbing two points clear of the danger area on Tuesday 24th February by holding high-flying Somerset rivals Weston-super-Mare to a goal-less draw, the Romans were pushed into the bottom four by Farnborough the following evening.
Bath City tumbled into the Enterprise National League South relegation zone on Wednesday 25th February. They have 16 games to preserve their Step 2 status, including seven here at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park | Photo © Richard Briggs
On Wednesday 25th February, in the division’s only fixture, the Hampshire club overcame demotion rivals Chippenham Town 2-1 at the Saunders Transport Community Stadium.
And that result lifted Farnborough into 20th place in the table at the expense of Bath, who dropped into 21st position – the last of the relegation berths.
However, City have two games in hand on the side from Cherrywood Road, who are one point ahead of them.
Last night’s developments place extra significance on Bath’s league match at fellow strugglers Enfield Town on Saturday 28th February (3pm).
Defeat for the Romans in North London will see them slip into 22nd spot in the standings – or even 23rd place, depending on Eastbourne Borough’s result against Hampton & Richmond Borough the same afternoon.
But little in football is certain. Who would have thought that Enfield would hammer Farnborough 5-0 away on Saturday 21st February and then lose 8-0 at Maidstone United three days later?
Reflecting on those results and looking ahead to the crucial game against the Towners at the Dave Bryant Stadium, City manager Darren Way said: “That’s the league, you face challenges, whether it’s suspensions…
“[Weston] had a man sent off for headbutting one of our players, they don’t look like they’re littered with players at the moment and that’s Weston that’ve got quite a lot of money, that are pushing for promotion – so we’re all being challenged.
“There was a lot of extra time [stoppage time against Weston]. It’s almost like you might as well add two or three games extra this season because of the amount of extra time [stoppage time] that’s being played, and it’s quite challenging.
“When you’re part-time players you have to respect that these lads have got day jobs and the pressures that come with that, and then they’ve got me screaming at them either at 3 o’clock or 7.45 to be able to get the best out of them and run really hard.”
Meanwhile, Bath City Women were unable to extend their winning run to seven games across all competitions as they were beaten 3-2 at neighbours Bitton on Wednesday 25th February in Shield Services Group South West Regional Women’s League Division One North.
The result hoisted Bitton up to fourth place in the table, City remaining in seventh spot ahead of their clash with visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town Ladies on Sunday 1st March (2pm).
A goal from Isabella Tweddle handed the hosts a 28th-minute advantage that they doubled through Layla Soppelsa early in the second half.
Jasmine Rennie pulled one back a few minutes later but Bitton struck again 18 minutes from the end, Ellie Jones on target.
A late goal from Romans’ substitute Adella Clarke set up a grandstand finale.
Bath starting XI: Lucy Clay, Jessica Evans, Bex Fry, Abby Gray, Poppy Spratt, Tara Taylor, Maddy Brown, Jasmine Rennie, Rosie Burridge, Emma Vilday, Beth Edwards.
