Next Match – Slough Town (A)

Bath City travel to a Slough Town side on Saturday who are enjoying their best home run for 50 years.

It’s the Rebels’ move impressive form at Arbour Park, where they moved to in 2016, and has contributed to a play-off push. A 5-2 mauling at home to Tonbridge in September was their sixth loss in seven to start the season, but a 2-1 success against the same opposition on Saturday demonstrated their recovery – they’ve been beaten just six since in 28. It was a case of strong start and finish in Kent with Matt Lench netting on 38 seconds and David Ogbonna’s winner in added time. Having lost their first four at home, it’s 12 wins and six draws since in Berkshire in all competitions. Not since the 1973/74 season have the Rebels enjoyed such a long unbeaten home run, this year’s achivement includes holding League Two Grimsby Town in the FA Cup, before losing 7-2 in the replay.

Scott Davies’ free-kick earned that second tie. The player manager has been a regular for the Rebels, not shirking his midfield duties since replacing Neil Baker and Jon Underwood in October 2022. He’s closing in on 200 appearances for Town, the double century would have been hit against City had he not just sat out two games through suspension. Davies has had an up-and-down time against the Romans in recent meetings – his stunning free-kick decided January’s contest while a senseless red card for handball on the line contributed to a 3-0 loss at Arbour Park 11 months previous.

Slough’s win at Twerton was City’s last until Tuesday night’s defeat to Braintree, and it was Town’s first victory in Bath since August 1992. They’ve never completed a league double over the Romans since meeting in the GM Vauxhall Conference for the first time in December 1990 at their old Wexham Park ground. Last year it was Jerry Gill’s side who had a stranglehold over the Rebels, the aforementioned 3-0 was preceded by a 5-1 victory at Twerton where Cody Cooke notched a hat-trick.

The match will see Slough Town ditch their usual home attire for the colours and logo of Thames Hospice (green) to raise awareness and fundraise for their local charity. They have set up a Just Giving page and will ask for donations on the day.

A supporters coach will run to Berkshire – book your space here to cheer on the Romans away from home!