Next Match – Beaconsfield Town (H)
Bath City will play their first home cup tie of 2023 when they host Beaconsfield Town this Saturday in the FA Trophy 2nd Round.
It is City’s first home draw in FA competitions this season after three away FA Cup clashes, and a maiden meeting with the Buckinghamshire outfit, who are currently 16th in Southern Premier South, one level below the Romans.
Beaconsfield have beaten Ashford United and Harrow Borough to reach this stage but have lost four of their last five league games, ending that poor run on Tuesday by again overcoming Harrow, this time 3-1 with recent signing Tom McElroy among the goals. Last Saturday Josh Payne’s penalty wasn’t enough in a defeat to Winchester, though it was the first spot kick they’d been awarded under Jon Underwood since he took over last February. Coincidentally it was the first under him as a manager since Slough’s draw at Twerton Park in March 2022.
Underwood has been at the helm since February. He initially shared the role with Neil Baker, as they did at Slough for nearly a decade, but Baker stepped down in May leaving his colleague in sole charge.
Jefferson Louis is a stand-out name in the coaching setup. The former Dominica international turns 45 in February but hasn’t slowed up his goalscoring – his double against Harrow secured their passage to this stage. Beaconsfield are his 43rd different club in a career which began in 1996.
Town were formed in 1994 as Beaconsfield SYCOB following the merger of Beaconsfield United and Slough Youth Club Old Boys. They reached the Southern League in 2004 and bar one season back in the Spartan South Midlands, they have competed at that level since. The Rams reached Step 3 in 2018, their first season having changed their name to Beaconsfield Town. Historically their FA Trophy record is uneventful – between 2004 and 2016 they won just one game from 14 in the competition. In 2018 they lost in round one at Leyton Orient and last year their journey ended at home to Folkestone on penalties at the stage they find themselves Saturday.
City’s best run was in 2015 when they reached the semi-finals, losing at North Ferriby United on penalties after a 3-3 draw on aggregate. Last year the Romans knocked out Billericay Town and holders Bromley before losing at Bracknell. This cup draw makes it four in a row where Bath have faced another side beginning with ‘B’!
Prices for Saturday’s contest have been reduced – you can pre-order your tickets via bathcityfc.com. It is an all-pay fixture.
The winners will earn £3,000 and a place in the 3rd Round where National League sides enter. Ties for that stage will take place on the weekend of 9 December.
