Darren Way says it is a good thing that his Bath City players were not happy with their draw against Enfield Town on Saturday 29th November.
Bath City show off their new third strip, which they debuted in the home draw with Enfield Town on Saturday 29th November | Photo © Simon Howe
The Enterprise National League South tussle at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Town ended 1-1 after the hosts went ahead – and that result was not good enough for Romans’ boss Way or his team.
Way said: “The lads are disappointed, we feel it’s points dropped. We weren’t happy with the goal that we conceded.
“I felt in the first half we had good periods of play. When we went 1-0 up we were carrying the momentum and then we allowed them to score an easy goal against the run of play. We never really responded from that to give the supporters enough to get behind.
The Romans celebrate Owen Windsor’s goal that put them 1-0 up against Enfield Town | Photo © Simon Howe
“The lads are like ‘We need to show a little bit more quality in the final third’ but I felt we should’ve done that when we went 1-0 up.
“The players are saying the right things in the dressing room but every single player to a man has to show a level of concentration and discipline within their role and responsibility in the team to allow us to keep clean sheets.
“That’s 10 points we’ve probably dropped now against teams that I felt we’re as good as if not better than, and that would put us near the play-offs – but I don’t want to keep saying that, I sound like a broken record.
“We take accountability, responsibility, that we should’ve picked up three points today. I think it’s a good thing that the lads aren’t accepting that [result].
“I’m really pleased with the players that have come in, that have added to the squad, but I think we need to add more.
“We’ve got to remain positive but we need to make sure we keep pushing and try to deal with these expectations we set ourselves, and that’s trying to win more consistently.”
Former Larkhall Athletic man Matt Bowman on the ball for Bath City against Enfield Town | Photo © Simon Howe
The Romans made a bright start, Owen Windsor firing across the face of goal in the first minute.
However, Enfield went agonisingly close to taking a 13th-minute lead. Nino Adom-Malaki sent over a corner and Sam Youngs slammed a shot off a post.
Xavier Benjamin drove narrowly over from 25 yards shortly afterwards as the North Londoners looked to turn pressure into a goal.
There was not much of a threat to either net after that until the 51st minute, when Bath almost broke the deadlock. Joe Raynes’ 30-yarder forced a fine tip-over save from Town gloveman George Barratt. Mitch Beardmore floated over the resulting corner but Jack Batten headed straight at Barratt.
However, City went in front three minutes later – much to the delight of the majority of the crowd of 1,130. Matt Bowman moved into the box, only to be tackled by Ruaridh Donaldson. But Luke Russe was on hand to set up Windsor, who drilled the ball into the roof of the net via a deflection.
And it was almost 2-0 in the 56th minute, Barratt doing well to tip away a volley from a narrow angle by Kieran Parselle.
Barrett was in action again in the 63rd minute, this time pushing behind a Beardmore drive.
But Enfield equalised in the 65th minute, Cian Dillon presenting Billy Leonard with the chance to net from close range.
And the visitors had a good chance to go 2-1 up in the 72nd minute, Lemar Reynolds firing at Binns after good work from Youngs.
Home substitute Jordan Alves tested Barratt seconds later but Binns had to be alert to deny Olly Davis in the 83rd minute.
Two minutes later, Davis shot inches wide – but that was the final serious attempt on goal and the points were shared.
The result lifted City into 16th place in the table but left Enfield in 19th spot, a point clear of the relegation area.
Bath: Charlie Binns, Joe Raynes, Danny Greeenslade, Jack Batten, Kieran Parselle, Brad Ash (Ollie Tomlinson, 86), Jordan Tillson, Mitch Beardmore (Jordan Alves, 66), Luke Russe, Matt Bowman, Owen Windsor. Unused subs: Harvey Wiles-Richards, Tresor Mabika, Owen Pritchard.
The Romans’ next league match is at play-off hopefuls Maidstone United on Saturday 6th December (3pm).
Tickets for the game at the Gallagher Stadium are available here.
But before that, City will head to neighbours Odd Down on Tuesday 2nd December (7.45pm) in the second round of the Francis Hillier Premier Cup, formerly the Somerset Premier Cup.
