Bath City (1) 1 Bristol City U23s (0) 0 – Tuesday 26 July 2022 – Pre-Season Friendly – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Dan Hayfield’s fine strike helped Bath City wrap up their home pre-season campaign with a win.
The midfielder timed his run perfectly to round off a fine move down the right with a first-time finish from Alex Fletcher’s pull-back.
The only sour point of the night saw Danny Greenslade hobble off with a muscular injury, which saw him replaced at the break.
Ryan Clarke’s first outing of pre-season saw him and Joe Wright claim a third clean sheet this July as the stoppers were well protected throughout.
Fletcher squandered Bath City’s first opening when he miscued wide after neat footwork by Rex Mannings.
Mannings slashed over when Joe Raynes’ long throw caused panic but the Romans were more clinical in their next attack on 22 minutes.
Raynes collected the ball in the middle of the field, freed Fletcher down the right whose delivery was right into the onrushing Hayfield’s path, with the midfielder confidently side-footing home from 12 yards.
Callum Wood, who impressed on loan at Twerton last term, had his evening cut short when he appeared to pull a hamstring. His replacement, another former Bath man in Sam Pearson, headed Marley Rose’s free-kick wide when unmarked immediately after his arrival.
Fletcher was denied by Harvey Wiles-Richards after Cody Cooke’s neat flick from Kieran Parselle set the attacker away.
The half ended on a low point for the Romans as Greenslade stretched to keep in a Chris Lines crossfield ball and pulled up, with Zac Bell taking his place at the break.
Chances were at a premium after the restart with Wright only stretched by Seb Palmer-Houlden, whose low effort was collected at the second attempt.
Following a raft of substitutions City went close to doubling their lead as the impressive Hayfield saw his powerful drive deflected over as another Raynes throw created issues for the young visitors’ defence.
Tommy Backwell, who netted for Bristol City under 23s last week in pre-season, nearly scored against his parent club when he curled just wide.
Scott Wilson’s fizzed cross-shot needed tipping away via a slight touch of Wiles-Richards but they couldn’t add to Hayfield’s goal in a solid display in front of their home faithful.
Att: 403
City;s Line-Up: Wright (Clarke 73), Raynes, Greenslade (Bell HT), Dyer (Batten 73), Parselle (c), Fletcher (Jaiyeoba 79), Spokes (Smith 65), Cooke, Lines (Backwell 65), Mannings (Wilson 65), Hayfield. Sub not used: Trialist.
Scorers: City – Hayfield (22); Robins – none
City Bookings: none
Officials: M Eva, R Hulme, K Rodd