Bath City v Billericay Town

It’s only been three months since City and Town last met. Bath visited New Lodge for the Third Qualifying Round of the F.A. Cup.

The Blues started brightly. A free-kick routine was blasted out of the ground by Jake Robinson with the match only a few minutes old. A minute later a through ball put him in on goal, but his effort was dragged wide.

Ten minutes in to the match Bath took the lead. A shot from the edge of the area floated over the defence and hit the inside of the post before dropping over the line.

Billericay were level 6 minutes later. A Jordan Parkes cross was deflected over the City keeper and volleyed in to the roof of the net by a Bath defender.

With the match half an hour old Moses Emmanuel had a well worked effort from distance well saved.

A few minutes later and Jake Robinson put The Blues ahead. He met a corner as he made a near post run and lifted his effort over the defence and inside the far post.

As the first half was coming to an end Jordan Parkes was given the chance of running at goal. He took the ball around the keeper and The Blues fans thought he’d lost the chance of scoring, but he kept his cool and passed Town’s third goal of the match in to the goal.

Moses had another great effort well saved just after the hour mark. Moments later Ronnie Henry diverted a corner kick towards goal forcing City’s keeper in to a reaction save which went back across goal. The ball was headed over the bar just before Ody Alfa could get to it.

Bath pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute. A free-kick was diverted toward goal and Alan Julian parried the effort, but a Bath player got to it first.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser. A long throw in to Town’s penalty area was only partially cleared and a volleyed effort was blocked by Ben Nunn. The following shot was also blocked by Nunn and put out for a corner.

In the 92nd minute Town sealed the tie. Moses was put through on goal but his effort was saved as the keeper came rushing out. The ball went free until it was picked up by Jake Robinson. Jake took it past Moe and the goalie before blasting his second goal of the match in to an empty net.

This weekend will see the seventh meeting between Bath City and Billericay Town, and the third of these at Twerton Park.

Of the six previous meetings Billericay have won 3, with Bath winning 2. Town have scored 10 goals to City’s 8.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

FORM

Bath City
17 Dec | W2-0 v SHOLING (F.A. Trophy)
21 Dec | W2-1 v Eastourne Borough
26 Dec | W3-2 v CHIPPENHAM TOWN
28 Dec | D0-0 v Hampton & Richmond Borough
01 Jan | v Chippenham Town

Billericay Town
07 Dec | L2-3 v Tonbridge Angels
14 Dec | L2-3 v Dartford
26 Dec | L1-4 v Concord Rangers
28 Dec | D1-1 v CHELMSFORD CITY
01 Jan | v CONCORD RANGERS