Bath City (0) 0 Bristol City U21s – Saturday 27 July 2024 – Pre-Season Friendly – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Bath City failed to make a most of their chances as they drew a blank against Bristol City U21.
Josey Casa-Grande frustrated his former side with a clean sheet, having kept five in his first five starts last term on loan for Jerry Gill’s side.
Alex Fisher squandered a couple of presentable openings in the first half, with the Romans also somehow failing to net during a mad scramble late on.
Harvey Wiles-Richards was seldom troubled as he recorded a third successive shutout.
City looked bright from the off, trying to utilise Ewan Clark’s trickery against his former side.
The winger’s cross from the right picked out the unmarked Fisher, but he failed to get fully over the ball and half-volleyed over from six yards when he should have hit the target.
Joe Raynes headed Clark’s corner just past Casa-Grande’s left post and Fisher skewed wide after Scott Wilson won possession high up the field.
Olly Thomas, who made two appearances for the Romans in 2023, dragged wide midway through the first half for the young Robins when the home defence hesitated, awaiting an offside flag which wasn’t coming.
Kai Churchley shot straight at Wiles-Richards before Fisher had the final chance of the opening 45.
A stray Zak Ali clearance was collected by Zac Smith, who threated through to Fisher but he fired straight at Casa-Grande from 10 yards.
Wilson nearly found himself one-on-one inside 30 seconds of the restart, but Raph Aroaye did enough to prevent him getting a telling shot on goal.
Wiles-Richards’ mishit clearance found Omar Taylor-Clarke, who tried to lob his former teammate from just inside his own half, only to see it easily taken by the relieved glovesman.
Thomas timed his run to perfection to collect Churchley’s through ball, but having rounded Wiles-Richards he rolled wide from 18 yards.
Callum Hewlett set himself up before half volleying wide in their last foray on the hosts’ goal.
Wilson headed Clark’s right wing cross wide as City finished strongly, boosted by substitutes Sol Wanjau-Smith, Jordan Tillson and Louis Sweeten.
The fourth replacement, centre-back Nick Grimes, found himself in the attacking third in a chaotic goalmouth scramble which somehow didn’t result in a goal.
Latrell Humphrey-Ewers’ pull-back from the byline was batted away by Casa-Grande, who was relieved to see Grimes and Wilson unable to get full purchase on their efforts, concluding with Humphrey-Ewers going to ground with penalty appeals waved away.
Clark’s low drive from Humphrey-Ewers’ pull-back was kept out by Casa-Grande in City’s last clear opening, as they had to settle for a first draw this summer.
Att: 417
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Batten (Grimes 78), Parselle (c), Humphrey-Ewers, Clark, Smith (Sweeten 81), Wilson, Alves (Tillson 59), Fisher (Wanjau-Smith 67). Subs not used: Sardo, Morgan.
Scorers: City – none; Bristol City – none
City Bookings: Parselle (46)
Officials: O Taylor, D Flynn, A Wilson