Next Match – Aveley (A)
Bath City make their first visit to Parkside this Saturday for the final match of the league campaign.
Hosts Aveley have enjoyed a marvellous season. The Millers were widely tipped to struggle after back-to-back promotions to National League South, the highest level they’ve played at in their history. However, since a 4-1 win over Taunton in their first home game in Step 2, they’ve remained in the top 10. A 2-1 victory at Weston-super-Mare last Saturday left them 8th in the League and still in with a chance of making the play-offs – if they can beat Bath City this Saturday. To deny City a place in the play-offs they would have to win by eight goals, but any win could lift them above Hampton & Richmond and into 7th place.
The Essex outfit have conceded a joint high 11 goals in the first 15 minutes of league matches, but they’re renowned for coming back strongly. No side has claimed more points from losing positions than their 22, with 14 of those coming on the road. Two Saturdays ago they recovered from a goal down to draw at Truro, despite having Jason Ring sent off for a third time this season. Ring’s other dismissals were against Torquay United and Bath City.
The full-backs red card at Twerton led to City’s third goal, allowing Cody Cooke to convert the second of two penalties that afternoon in a 3-0 win. It completed Cooke’s second hat-trick for the Stripes, the other was against the same goalkeeper – Jonathan North – back in August 2022 when he figured for Slough Town.
Barring absolute disaster at Aveley, City will finish 6th or 7th, meaning a play-off eliminator away from home on either next Tuesday, if they finish 6th, or next Wednesday, if they finish 7th. A reminder that 4th play 7th and 5th play 6th ahead of the semi-finals.
A supporters coach will be making the trip to Aveley, departing from Twerton Park at 9.10am with stops before and after. So come along and cheer City over the line for the final time in the 46-game season next weekend!
If he features, Dan Greenslade will make his 50th outing of the season and 100th for the club.
Go to bathcityfcsc.com/upcoming-trips/ for travel details to Aveley, and to the play-offs (hopefully!).
