Baffling spot kick leaves City flumoxed

City's defence was tested within the first minute. With only thirty seconds gone Jason Eaton cut inside Colin Vowden before firing in a low drive but Tim Wooding blocked his effort. Twenty seconds on and Adrian Foster tried his luck from the edge of the area, Martin Davies in the City goal collecting it with a spectacular diving catch.

The action in the early minutes was quite frantic. A great run from Matt Clements through three tackles saw the winger play a nice pass into Kevin Wilkin, Bath's keeper Mark Bryant dealt competently with the resulting shot from eighteen yards.

A minute later, speed merchant Frankie Bennett outpaced City's Shane Wardley before delivering a teasing cross that Davies only managed to push away to the edge of the area where it fell invitingly for Foster, but his shot was superbly blocked by Che Wilson and spun away for a corner.

With ten minutes on the clock City took the lead. Wilkin was brought down by Andy Minturn near the left touchline, Tim Wooding swung in the perfect cross and with Bryant unsure whether to come for the ball, Wilkin took advantage, stealing in to plant a bullet header into the back of the net

Unfortunately the lead only lasted ten minutes. Wooding was harshly penalised for a challenge on Andy Williams ten yards inside City's half. Jason Drysdale launched a high ball into the area that sailed harmlessly over everyone and out of play, or so it seemed, referee Kevin Milford had other ideas. Much to everyone's amazement he pointed to the spot for a seemingly innocuous coming together between Wilson and Eaton. Drysdale gobbled up this unexpected good fortune to strike home the penalty via the inside of Davies' left hand upright.

City instantly responded with Wilkin firing home Richard Skelly's chip over the top, but the City striker was adjudged offside and the goal chalked off.

Just before the half hour Davies pulled off a great save to deny Mike Trought when he powered in a header from close range. At the other end Clements so nearly punished a short backpass from Minturn but Bryant saved his defender's blushes, sticking out a leg to retrieve the ball as the City man went to go past him.

Deep into first-half injury time Davies again came to the fore to keep City on level terms. A foul on Bennett by Wilson (for which he was booked) saw the ball launched deep into City's area. It was repelled but only to Williams who miscued his first time effort from the edge of the area into the ground, the ball bounced over everyone and Foster reacted quickest to fire in a point blank shot that Davies did superbly well to turn over the bar.

Despite some early promise, the second period petered out into a non event, particularly from a City point of view as the visitors appeared to settle for a point early on.

After two minutes Foster tested Davies with a swerving shot which was comfortably held. Foster was again involved three minutes later when he played a neat cross to the back post where Eaton waited to pounce, only a brave interception from Wooding prevented the much travelled striker from putting Bath ahead.

City did apply a little pressure soon after. A number of crosses in quick succession caused problems for The Romans backline but this was about as good as it got. Both sides seemed only capable of squandering possession and the game became very messy. The home side found it increasingly difficult to break down the wall of blue shirts before them as City defended in numbers. However, Bath substitute Gary Horgan had a glorious chance to score when he was put clean through by Eaton but Davies was quickly down at his feet, forcing him to fire over the bar. Horgan was again involved in the 73rd minute when he was allowed to continue his run up the flank despite looking yards offside. His cross found Eaton who placed his dipping header inches over the bar.

By now it was all Bath, but despite having a lot of the ball the home side failed to create much to worry City's defence, thanks in no small measure to another towering performance from Colin Vowden.