Bath City (0) 1 Chelsmford City (1) 2 – Saturday 28 August 2021 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park

Bath City (0) 1 Chelsmford City (1) 2 – Saturday 28 August 2021 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park

Match Report by Mark Stillman

Bath City suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday against a previously windless Chelmsford City side.

Adam Morgan netted from the spot and Dara Dada finished off a counter with a smart strike from 22 yards, the goals just before and after the interval.

The Romans had a good penalty shout turned down in the first half when Tom Wraight appeared to handle Alex Fletcher’s goalbound shot.

Cody Cooke made it three goals in three games for the Romans but it wasn’t enough.

Bath started brightly as a vital Dave Winfield interception denied Alex Fletcher an opener.

Chelmsford responded when Callum Harrison’s telling cross was headed towards goal by Morgan at an acute angle but Ryan Clarke batted behind.

City were denied a penalty on the half hour when Fletcher saw his shot charged down by the arm of Wraight following a scramble but vociferous appeals were waved away.

Chelmsford were awarded a spot-kick of their own when Morgan skipped past Raynes and was adjudged to have been tripped by the defender, who was making his first Bath start since March 2020.

Morgan took the penalty and dispatched it with ease into the roof of the net.

The Clarets added a second three minutes after half-time. A mix-up in attack saw Raynes’ ball intercepted by Dada who exchanged passes with Harrison on the counter and fired superbly low past Clarke.

Roared on by a 1000+ crowd, City enjoyed good spells of possession but goalkeeper Jacob Marsden wasn’t called into action until the 81st minute, parrying away Fletcher’s stinging drive with Cooke blazing the rebound over from 10 yards.

The Romans finally found a way through when debutant Marlee Francois’ cross was headed home by Cooke from close range in the last meaningful action of the game.

Att: 1103

City’s Line-Up: Clarke, Raynes, Gerring (c), Batten, Fletcher, Holness (Harley 56), Cooke, Smith, Frear, Jones, Francios. Subs not used: Ball, Fuller, James, Richards.

Scorers: City – Cooke (90+5); Chelmsford – Morgan (pen 45), Dada (48)

City Bookings: Holness (32), Gerring (41)

Officials: M Whaley, M Senior, A Hendly