Report – Bath City 0 – 0 Wealdstone
Bath City
0 - 0
WealdstoneBath City and Wealdstone slugged out a 0-0 draw in a feisty encounter at Twerton Park on Saturday where both sides had a man sent off.
The Romans captain Darren Jones saw red just five minutes into the match for a last-man lunge on Danny Green and then Ryan Sellers picked up a second yellow card early into the second half.
Bobby Wilkinson made two changes to the side that progressed into the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup last week with Abobaker Eisa and Ciaron Brown both returning to the starting eleven at the expense of Alan O’Brien and Josh Hill.
Wealdstone have an historically poor record against Bath but just five minutes into the game they were given a huge boost; Green latched onto a long ball to set him racing through on goal only to be upended by Jones just outside the area and referee Lee Brennan gave Bath’s talisman a straight red.
And this certainly perked up the Stones with their best chance of the game coming 14 minutes in. Ricky Wellard beat Jack Compton on the left to cross for Matty Whichelow, he looped a header over keeper Luke Southwood only for Jack Batten to head off the line.
Bobby Wilkinson’s former Hungerford Town striker Nat Jarvis had the best chance of the game for the hosts just before half time. Compton played a deep cross in for the striker and he somehow headed wide after losing his marker.
On 57 minutes Sellers picked up his second booking. Brown played a sloppy wide ball to Sellers which was intercepted by quick-thinking man of the match Andy Watkins and in chasing the midfielder back Sellers tripped him, and with the home fans baying for blood since the fifth minute it became ten versus ten.
Nick McCootie had a good chance to put the hosts ahead after nodding an Anthony Straker cross wide and Green had the Stones best chance in stoppage time when Southwood tipped his free-kick over, to give a fair result as both sides cautiously became more patient in the second half.
Wealdstone travel to Burgess Hill Town next week in the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round and boss Wilkinson promises to field his strongest possible side as the Stones target cup progression.
WEALDSTONE: North, Oshodi (Cox 46), Sellers, Brown, Day, Wellard, Whichelow (Williams 61), Okimo, Fitchett, Green, Eisa (O’Brien 61). Subs not used: Benyon, Ngamvoulou.
By Chris Woods
Manager Bobby Wilkinson’s post match Interview HERE
Steve Foster pictures HERE