Next Match – Melksham Town (A)
Bath City are on the road for pre-season for the first time this Tuesday when they make the short trip to Melksham Town.
Melksham finished 16th in Southern League South last season, two divisions below the Romans. It was their lowest placing since gaining promotion to Step 4 in 2018 and they experienced little joy in the major cup competitions, losing 1-5 at lower league AFC Stoneham in the FA Cup Preliminary Round and going down 3-0 at Hamworthy United in the FA Trophy, not long before United folded.
Their away form hampered them last year, winning just four on the road with only Willand Rovers and relegated Paulton Rovers collecting fewer points.
They’ll be expected to improve this season and have made some eye-catching additions. Theo Lynden enjoyed a productive spell on loan from Bristol Rovers last year and has now joined permanently, and goalkeeper Alfie Kelsey, a former Bath City Academy graduate, has arrived from Corsham Town.
Arguably the most standout acquisition is Jake Andrews from Swindon Supermarine. The former Bristol City youth was part of the Torquay United side which won National League South in 2019. Andrews ballooned a penalty over in City’s memorable 3-2 win over the Gulls five and a half years ago.
Manager Mark Collier has overseen two of the most remarkable away wins witnessed at Twerton Park in recent years. In 2010, he led Swindon Supermarine to the 2nd round of the FA Cup, dumping City out in the 4th Qualifying Round with a 4-3 replay win at Twerton. City were 3-1 up against a side two leagues below them before a last minute Kyle Lapham effort was adjudged to have crossed the line.
Seven years later, he was in charge when Chippenham Town romped to a 5-2 success against City at the start of the 2017/18 campaign, in one of Gary Owers’ final matches in charge.
Collier can call upon Luke Ballinger on his coaching staff. Ballinger, who works in Melksham, has over 100 caps for England’s futsal side, who he captained on numerous occasions. In terms of 11-a-side, he scored against City last time they played Melksham. The Romans won 2-1 at Oakfield Stadium thanks to goals from Alex Hartridge and Tyler Harvey.
City have won the last three friendlies between the two, last suffering defeat in July 2000 at Melksham’s old Conigre ground. They moved to Oakfield in 2017 and have hosted Bristol Rovers, Yeovil Town and Forest Green Rovers at home this term in pre-season. All three ended in defeat, their latest outing was a 2-2 draw at nearby Devizes Town on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Gill’s charges overcame Port Vale 1-0 for their first win this pre-season. They’ll head to Wiltshire without Sol Wanjau-Smith (concussion) and Jordan Tillson is a doubt having been forced off in the first half at the weekend. The game marks the midway point of City’s pre-season with the league campaign beginning on 10 August at Boreham Wood. Melksham travel to Bristol Manor Farm on the same day, a week after an FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie at home to troubled Welton Rovers.
There are no advanced tickets available for Tuesday – only pay at the gate. We hope to see many City fans in Wiltshire as we continue our pre-season preparations!
