City v Hemel – Match Preview

City play fellow Vanarama National South team Hemel Hempstead Town at Twerton Park tomorrow in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round with £7500 prize money at stake for the winners of the tie.

Since their promotion to this level in 2014 the games between Bath City and Hemel Hempstead have not been without incident. Back in November 2014 Hemel visited Twerton Park for an evening fixture and it was a Dave Pratt penalty that gained City victory with THREE Hemel players being sent off. The return game back in Hertfordshire saw City win 3-0 with the home side having another player dismissed just after half-time. The following season saw both games end 1-1, but last term saw the goals fly in with a 3-3 draw at Hemel in September and City winning 6-0 at Twerton Park – with yet another Hemel player sent off early in the game.

In the Second Qualifying round of this season’s FA Cup Hemel Hempstead overcame Wingate & Finchley, winning the replay 2-1 after extra time following a draw 0-0 at home.

Hemel Hempstead have in actual fact drawn their last five FA Cup ties, being take on to replays. This season Hemel’s record was almost identical to City’s up until last Saturday when they suffered a 5-1 defeat at Chippenham.

Hemel’s team is likely to include Carlie Sheringham, the son of former England player Teddy Sheringham, and fans must also look out for the goal threat of Jordan Parkes who returned to the club last season following a spell at Ebbsfleet United.

At half-time Bath City FC will be receiving a cheque from A-Plan Insurance linked to their offer to donate £25 to the Club for every new policy that goes on cover quoting Bath City FC.

Let’s keep the momentum going and get behind Jim Rollo and the team. Come along to Twerton Park this Saturday and cheer the team on in the Cup.

The draw for the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup takes place on Monday with ties being played on Saturday 14th October. The winners of each tie will then go into the hat for the First Round Proper with games played over the weekend of Friday 3rd November to Monday 7th November.