City open season with FA Cup defeat

Bath City Women began their season this afternoon with a disappointing Adobe Women’s FA Cup exit against Bitton AFC at Twerton Park. The only goal of the game came early in a second half that saw a 30 minute delay whilst a thunder and lightning storm swept across the ground.

Defences were firmly on top during the first half, with City enjoying the better of the possession but failing to create any clear openings. In fact, it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock on 26 minutes when Nolan found space in the area before seeing her shot roll narrowly wide of the far post. However, the same player made no mistake within 30 seconds of the restart with a low shot under Sadie Farley. Boosted by this Bitton pressed forward looking for a second goal, Farley saving brilliantly from Williams’ 59th minute effort, then a minute later standing up well to block another Nolan shot. On 72 minutes City thought they had equalised when Libby Goater’s cross was converted by Adella Clarke but an offside flag halted the celebrations. By then the game was being played out under torrential rain and to a background of thunder and lightning. And seven minutes later the referee took the players from the field. After a break of nearly half an hour they returned and City threw everything they could at the visitors in search of an equaliser. However, despite winning a series of corners Bitton stood firm to secure their place in the next round.

City’s Development side’s opening game of the season against Wellington Wildcats was abandoned due to the same storm sweeping across the region.