Bath City (0) 2 Hemel Hempstead Town (1) 1 – Saturday 19 March 2022 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
TOM Smith’s first league goal of the season earned a much-needed and deserved win for Bath City.
Sam Mantom’s 20-yarder gave visitors Hemel an early lead, but an Alex Fletcher penalty drew City level on 64 minutes.
Fletcher was also involved in Smith’s winner to consign Mark Jones to back-to-back league defeats as Hemel boss for the first time since taking over.
Captain Mantom gave the visitors the perfect start on eight minutes when he ran unchallenged and confidently drove into the bottom corner from outside the box.
Both teams exchanged efforts against the upright with Dave Sims-Burgess’ attempted lob from Ryan Clarke’s drop-kick coming back off the crossbar and Gus Scott-Morriss slammed against the post when Dominic Morgan-Griffiths’ long throw caused panic.
The Romans were sent out early for the second half and were gifted a leveller when Fletcher nipped ahead of Joash Nembhard who upended the striker just inside the box. Fletcher took the spot-kick himself and blasted past King.
Smith was well-placed to clear from Pierre Fonkeu’s effort which left Clarke beaten, then popped up at the other end to end his 14-month goal drought by shooting home on the turn after Fletcher’s effort deflected against the post.
Joe Raynes lashed wide as City looked for another but they saw out a bombardment of long throws well to clinch three well-earned points.
Att: 1021
City’s Line-Up: Clarke (c), Raynes, Delaney, Batten, Fletcher, Smith, Frear, E Jones (Holness 59), Dyer, R Jones, Sims-Burgess. Subs not used: Fuller, Ball, Richards, Rowe.
Scorers: City – Fletcher (pen 64), Smith (73); Hemel – Mantom (8)
City Bookings: none
Officials: J Richardson, A Smith, J Welsh