Bath City (1) 1 Salisbury (0) 0 – Tuesday 26 November 2024 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Oscar Stevens.
Bath City claimed their first league win since early October in a dogged evening against fellow strugglers Salisbury.
On what was truly a cold, wet, Tuesday night of football at Twerton Park, City managed to hold on to their early lead with neither team producing any real quality throughout the match.
Nevertheless, interim Lee Kendall will be delighted to have seen his team hold on for a win, rectifying the side’s recent struggles to close games out.
Salisbury, who have also been winless in the league since early October, were hoping to avenge September’s last minute FA Cup loss to The Romans.
Brian Dutton’s squad arguably had the advantage coming into the game, having only played once in ten days compared to City’s three in that time frame.
It was the defence that won the match overall, with both teams being largely inefficient in attack, often creating clever build up play but unable to execute in the final third.
Ollie Tomlinson came in at centre-back for the suspended Jack Batten and performed solidly with Kieran Parselle under Salisbury’s barrage of crosses.
City started the first half on top, utilizing a high press system.
Scott Wilson and Ben Seymour remained a constant nuisance to the opposition’s defence, however clear goal-scoring opportunities were few and far between.
A clever trivela ball on eight minutes from Micah Anthony almost put Wilson through on goal, only to be denied by a fantastic last ditch tackle by George Franklin.
Salisbury’s attack followed a similar pattern of what-if’s.
Jordan Raggette remained problematic with his disrupting runs from deep as the Whites remained a threat throughout the first half, whipping in dangerous crosses from the wings.
However nothing seemed to come to fruition.
Nonetheless, it was the drilled shot of Jordan Alves that gave Bath the only goal of the game.
The tricky winger gathered the ball in acres of space outside a crowded 18-yard box.
Using quick footwork to beat the oncoming defender, the 24-year-old cut in on his left and buried the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
It was a deserved lead for the home team, who were the better side for the first 30 minutes.
Regardless, Salisbury responded to the goal well and their best opportunity of the half came from Callum Watts.
The midfielder, who picked up the ball outside of the box, fired a powerful shot from distance, only to be denied by the nimble Harvey Wiles-Richards who was quick to drop to the ground.
A period of Salisbury pressure followed, four corners in a row on 34 minutes as they unsuccessfully pushed for the equaliser.
Both managers feet a change was needed at half-time, with both sides making two substitutions apiece.
Dutton’s side looked promising as the second half commenced.
Substitute Craig Fasanmade used intelligent movement as the away side tried to stretch City’s now deep-laying defence.
City’s new game-plan of sitting back began to invite pressure, with a nervy last 15 minutes seeing barely any action outside of the Romans’ half.
Whites captain Canice Carrol began acting as a play-maker, peppering balls into the box, however these were adequately dealt with by the City defence to hold on.
It may have been an uneventful second half, but overall it was a concrete performance and a significant win in the battle for Bath’s league survival.
Att: 885
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Parselle (c), Wilson (Lawrence 88), Tillson, Russe, Alves (Fisher HT), Anthony (Humphrey-Ewers HT), Seymour (Frear 81), Tomlinson. Sub not used: J Phillips.
Scorers: City – Alves (22); Salisbury – none
City Bookings: Alves (45)
Officials: K Dowle, B Williamson, A Gregory, P Collier (4th)