Chesham United (0) 0 Bath City (0) 1 – Saturday 5 October 2024 – Vanarama National League South – The Meadow
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Jordan Alves’ first goal for the club sealed Bath City’s maiden away league win of the season.
The winger’s header just after half-time clinched back-to-back victories for Jerry Gill’s side on the seven year anniversary of his appointment.
Joe James impressed on debut on loan from Bristol City as the Romans were forced to contend with an avalanche of long throws from a direct home side.
Ultimately they stood firm and stopped Chesham scoring at home in the league for the first time since Boxing Day 2022.
James started in place of Nick Grimes as one of four changes from last Saturday’s win over Salisbury, with Sol Wanjau-Smith, Latrell Humphrey-Ewers and Alves all recalled.
City started well with Jordan Tillson’s ball down the right chased onto by Scott Wilson, who touched the ball around hesitant home goalkeeper Ben Goode before his looping effort drifted off target from a tough angle.
Alves floated a free-kick over before the visitors’ first scare arrived on 18 minutes when Omar Rowe delicately curled just wide from 20 yards.
Calls for a penalty were turned down when Kieran Parselle lunged in on Connor Stevens as he linked up with Rowe, but referee Martyn Mitchell deemed he nicked the ball before the centre-back pulled the trigger.
It was the final talking point of a first half which largely petered out with little flow on a tricky surface and neither side providing a telling quality in the final third.
That all changed within five minutes of the restart.
Alves and Tillson linked up quickly from a throw-in which concluded with the former attempting to guide the ball into the top corner, but Goode smartly batted behind for a corner.
The resulting set-piece led to what proved to be the winner.
Humphrey-Ewers’ delivery towards the penalty spot was tidily dispatched by Alves with a bullet header across goal, which flew past the helpless Goode.
Having rescued a joint high eight points from losing positions this season, Chesham instantly probed for a leveller.
A scramble saw Nathan Minhas strike the post on the turn before the striker missed an even more presentable opening on 65 minutes.
Substitute Devonte Aransibia found half a yard against Dan Greenslade before picking out Minhas unmarked six yards out, but he wastefully headed over.
With the home side piling bodies forward, throwing caution to the wind, Grimes replaced Wanjau-Smith for extra defensive protection.
Alves’ shot at Goode’s near post was well held by the home custodian in a rare opening on the break for Gill’s side.
They were largely penned back with Chesham effectively playing five up front, even throwing centre-back Steve Brown on for added time to add further presence for Jack Cawley and Jack Connors’ long throws.
With Harvey Wiles-Richards’ handling assured behind a courageous backline, it prevented any further serious scares to send City home with a hard-earned three points.
Att:1066
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Greenslade, Batten, Parselle (c), Wanjau-Smith (Grimes 74), Humphrey-Ewers, Wilson, Fisher, Tillson, James. Alves. Subs not used: Raynes, Frear, Sardo, Phillips.
Scorers: City – Alves (49); Chesham – none
City Bookings: Wiles-Richards (83)
Officials: M Mitchell, S Rea, C Poole, J Stevenson (4th)