Next Match – Salisbury (A) – FA Cup
It’s a return to FA Cup action this weekend as Bath City travel to Salisbury in an FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round tie.
Salisbury beat AFC Stoneham 7-1 on Saturday to set up this tie, with substitute Ronan Silva scoring four in the rout against the Step 5 outfit.
The Whites were promoted to National League South in May, overcoming Gosport Borough and AFC Totton in the play-offs, the latter on penalties.
Having formed in 2015 following the collapse of Salisbury City, this is the highest level the new club have played at. They’re yet to reach the 4th Qualifying Round, last year they lost at this stage to Slough Town in a replay.
They met Slough in their first home game this term, defeating them 1-0 last month. Following a bright start, losing just one of their first five, three successive defeats stalled their progress, but the thrashing of Stoneham and a confidence boosting 3-2 win over Chippenham Town at the weekend has got them back on track. They’ve picked up 10 of their 11 points at home and are one point and four places above City in National League South.
Salisbury’s squad has been boosted by the return of former Bluebird Noah Coppin from injury. Coppin scored 22 league goals last term, including one in both play-off matches. He wasn’t on target last week, but former Roman Sido Jombati was…in his own net. An own goal for the popular ex-City defender didn’t prove decisive in the end. Now 37, he made 94 appearances for the Romans between 2009-2011 before a spending decade in the EFL.
This is the fifth year in the last eight years that City have drawn a side in their division at this stage of the competition. Last year Jerry Gill’s side overcame Weymouth 2-1 thanks to goals from Dan Hayfield and Scott Wilson. City have won four of their six 3rd Qualifying Round ties during Gill’s tenure. This will be his 21st FA Cup tie in charge, only Bobby Jones (24) and Eddie Hapgood (22) have overseen more post-war.
Saturday is the first competitive meeting between the clubs since Salisbury’s reform. Salisbury City knocked Bath City out of the FA Cup in 2013 where Elliott Frear’s cross was headed home by Theo Lewis, now player assistant manager of the Wiltshire side. Their current boss, Brian Dutton, played in that tie. The Whites lost in round two to Port Vale before disbanding seven months later.
If Saturday’s match ends in a draw, a replay will take place at Twerton Park on Tuesday 1 October, KO 7.45pm at Twerton Park.
Tickets are available for Saturday’s tie here. Please note that segregation will be in place.
City will be wearing their blue change kit.
Away travel:
There will be a supporters’ coach running to this game. You can book online here, departure times and information included, or by contacting Cheryl Morgan.
If you’re unable to attend, you can obtain updates via:
X – @BathCity_FC
Bath City Radio – Bath City Radio or bathcityradio.mixlr.com. Also on the Mixlr app, search for Bath City Radio. Mark Stillman, Chris Chappell and Matt Francis on commentary.
