Next Match – Chesham United (A)

For the second league game running, Bath City tackle a side they’ve yet to face in this division as they travel to Chesham United.

Chesham won Southern Premier South last season. Gradual improvement under joint bosses James Duncan and Michael Murray saw them finish 10^th, 6^th and 5^th in completed seasons, before winning the title last year with games to spare. The joy of their first championship since 1997 was shared by director Alex Horne, better known as co-presenter on celebrity gameshow Taskmaster. Horne is an avid Chesham fan and lives locally. The Meadow, United’s home ground, has figured in past episodes.

This is the Buckinghamshire club’s first venture into Step 2 football since 2002/03 when their six year stay in the Isthmian Premier ended in relegation. Following the introduction of Conference North/South in 2004, they spent the first two seasons in the Southern Premier, before relegation in 2006. Promotion from Step 4 via the play-offs in 2010 was achieved and they remained in the Southern League until last year, when they won the division by nine points.

Their form was replicated in the FA Cup, where they reached the 1^st Round before losing to Maidstone United. In this year’s competition, Bishops Cleeve became the first team to stop them from scoring last Saturday before Tuesday’s scheduled replay was washed out. Yeovil Town await the winners.

Both teams have scored in all nine of Chesham’s league matches so far. They’re still unbeaten on the road in all competitions but their home record has been indifferent. That said, a 3-2 win over Aveley a month ago should be the kickstart they needed. The Generals were 2-0 down and still trailing in added time before Samson Esan and Devonte Aransibia struck to snatch a stunning win. It made it eight points won from losing positions this season, a joint divisional high with Worthing, and continued their late goals reputation – nine of their 17 in the league have been scored from the 78^th minute onwards with four in added time.

Late drama secured Bath City’s progress in the FA Cup last Saturday at Salisbury. Alex Fisher’s 92^nd minute header was the club’s latest FA Cup winner since Scott Partridge’s heroics at Barnet 20 years ago. It could prove the ideal confidence boost for Jerry Gill’s side – Saturday also corresponds with the seven-year anniversary of his appointment.

Gill has enjoyed many fond memories in charge of the Romans while one of his opposite numbers, Michael Murray, has a stand-out recollection against the Stripes. In October 2016 he was part of the Potters Bar Town team that knocked City out of the FA Cup 3^rd Qualifying Round on penalties, his goal in the replay took the tie to spot-kicks.

Saturday is the sixth meeting between Bath City and Chesham United. Four of the five were in Southern Premier. 

Overall record v Chesham: Pld 5 W3 D1 L1 F6 A4

Quirks:

• The trophy defeat was the first in a cup competition under Lee Howells.
• Tom Nichols made his debut in that game on loan from Exeter City. He’s now at League One Mansfield Town.

Tickets are available for Saturday’s match here.

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, Alex Lane-Kieltyka and Matt Francis on commentary.

Come along and see if City can add further excitement following last week’s cup epic!