Bath City (0) 0 Braintree Town (0) 0 – Saturday 29 January 2022 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park

Bath City (0) 0 Braintree Town (0) 0 – Saturday 29 January 2022 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park

Match Report by Mark Stillman.

Bath City recorded their first league draw in 26 games in a largely uneventful stalemate with Braintree Town.

Their 13-month stretch without a share of the spoils in National League South saw the away side appear happier with the point.

The main talking point saw Alfie Payne’s challenge on Bath’s Callum Rowe when clean through on goal go unpunished.

Two clearances off the line from Correy Davidson helped preserve a draw for Ryan Maxwell’s men, who moved one point off the bottom.

Matt Johnson’s tremendous 25-yarder clipped off the outside of the post for the Iron in a forgettable first half, where Cody Cooke had a penalty appeal turned down for the Romans after Davidson appeared to upend him near the goal line after Rowe’s corner was missed by Billy Johnson in the home goal.

Ryan Clarke’s first meaningful save of the afternoon saw him comfortably tip Luke Holness’ header over, whereas Billy Johnson was beaten at the other end only to see Davidson well placed to deny Alex Fletcher on the line.

Payne’s clear pull on Rowe’s shirt was deemed legitimate despite amid strong protests from the hosts, who also saw Tom Smith hit the side-netting with a rasping drive from 18 yards.

Davidson again saved Town by denying Zak Delaney, and nearly snatched a late winner when Clarke just did enough to bat away his shot direct from a corner.

The match opened up in the closing stages but neither did enough to break the deadlock as City claimed a welcome clean sheet ahead of a tricky month of fixtures.

Att: 1033

City’s Line-Up: Clarke (c), Raynes, Delaney, Batten, Fletcher (Frear 72), Cooke, Smith, Ball, Seymour, Rowe, Dyer. Subs not used: Fuller, Richards, Kadji.

Scorers: City – none; Braintree – none

City Bookings: Delaney (77)

Officials: M Ryan, T Staten, K Slade