The local residents will have been little troubled by the noise level from this low-key encounter as City recorded their second successive goalless home draw, however, had the struggling Romans shown greater composure in front of goal they might have collected their first league victory away from Twerton Park since their last visit to Milton Road in February 2003.

Simon Martin’s departure for Thurrock earned a recall for fit again striker Darren Grieves. With Lewis Baille and Louis Riddle recovered from injuries sustained on Saturday there were no other changes from the starting eleven which produced such an impressive victory at Merthyr.

Bath's Adam Howarth just reaches the ball ahead of Danny Bloomfield

On a heavy pitch both teams struggled to settle into any early pattern and that was much the story of the entire evening. Nearly ten minutes had elapsed before the first effort on goal when visiting winger Josh Jeffries shot high of the target from the right hand edge of the area. It was as long again before City registered their first meaningful effort, good work by Craig Pope and Danny Bloomfield on the right hand side creating an opening for Grieves whose early strike from distance caused Mark Bryant to scramble low to his left and push the ball around the foot of his near post.

Having found his range earlier Jeffries came close to breaking the deadlock as the opening half approached its mid-point. As Bath switched play from left to right the former youth team player showed good control to turn inside Baillie and create space for a shot from the edge of the area, fortunately for City Martin Davies elected to stand up and as Jeffries chose to fire his effort high the Lilywhites custodian was able to make an important block above his head, forcing the ball away from danger.

As City showed the first signs of getting their passing game together Carl Williams combined with Stuart Niven who in turn freed Louis Riddle to run menacingly at Steve Jones, the former West Ham winger then laid a pass inside to Rob Miller who took the ball early and fired wide of Bryant’s left hand upright. As play switched to the other end Jeffries again shielded the ball well from Baillie but the presence of the City full back forced the Romans’ wide man to fire tamely wide.

With just over a third of the game gone the visitors spurned another very presentable opportunity. Jeffries crossed from the right and as City failed to clear effectively the loose ball fell invitingly to Scott Partridge but with only Davies to beat the Romans’ striker appeared to loose his footing and his miss-hit shot was ushered behind for a corner.

Craig Pope gets involved in the Bath penalty area

As the half drew to a close Louis Riddle produced City’s best moment as he again scampered down the left flank before delivering a deep cross which Mike Trought could only head into the path of an on-rushing Rob Miller who fired narrowly over the angle of post and crossbar. Moments later Darren Grieves cushioned a Matt Langston free-kick into the path of Stuart Niven who flashed a snap-shot narrowly wide.

With time almost up the visitors again breached the Lilywhites rearguard. Stuart Niven was caught in possession by visiting player/boss Gary Owers. Seeing Partridge peel off to the left the former Sunderland midfielder picked out his team-mate with a cultured lofted pass. Partridge in turn, cut inside Lee Pluck but with the goal at his mercy he lifted his shot high and wide of the target as a relieved Martin Davies looked on.

City showed increased urgency immediately after the break. Louis Riddle colleted the ball just inside Bath territory and made a penetrating run, cutting inside Jones he unleashed a low drive that drifted narrowly wide with Bryant struggling to cover his ground. Minutes later Stuart Niven lofted a ball into the edge of the area which Bryant came to collect but spilled under challenge from Danny Bloomfield allowing Darren Grieves to lash the ball goalwards only for Adam Howarth to recover and clear off the line. From Niven’s resultant place kick Matt Langston header narrowly off target.

As the hour mark approached the increasingly influential Owers played a neat one-two with Darren Hawkins which saw the Romans’ midfielder get in behind the City back line and send in a fierce low shot from an acute angle which forced Davies into another smart stop.

As Gary Roberts looked to push on for a win he withdrew Stuart Niven and Darren Grieves replacing them with Rob Nightingale and Robbie Simpson respectively. Whilst City were now enjoying territorial domination Bath still threatened on the break. As the game entered its final third the otherwise immaculate Matt Langston stood on the ball in centre field allowing Partridge to get the wrong side of him, the former Stevenage centre halting his progress with a tug at the shirt which was punished with a yellow card. Langston was soon to be followed into Mr Bryan’s notebook by opposite number Mike Trought for following through on Rob Miller.

Rob Miller looks to set up an attack

On 68 minutes City carved out one of few clear cut chances of the evening. Lewis Baillie having a sound game a left back drove forward and played a pass inside to Rob Miller who in turn lifted the ball over the Bath back line and into the path of the lively Robbie Simpson who shot across Bryant but the former Weston-Super-Mare ‘keeper was equal to the task and parried clear.

Gary Owers was then forced to withdraw Jeffries who had injured himself in fouling Riddle, Drew Shore taking his place. Riddle himself continued to torment the right hand side of the Romans’ defence, cutting out a cross-field pass from Owers he embarked on another trademark run again cutting inside but on this occasion his shot was deflected and safely gathered in by Bryant.

Robbie Simpson’s presence certainly freshened up the City attack. With 11 minutes remaining Carl Williams played an incisive ball inside Steve Jenkins but with the teenage striker homing in goal Trought was across quickly to avert the danger with a superbly timed tackle although the injury he sustained making the challenge forced him out of the game with Bobby Ford coming on in his place.

City almost snatched all three points at the death as a foul on Robbie Simpson wide on the left allowed Rob Miller to swing in a far post free kick which was met by a powerful downward header from Craig Pope. Just as it appeared the ball would creep inside the post Bryant got down smartly to make a vital save and push the ball around the post although amazingly Mr Bryan over-ruled his assistant and awarded a goal kick.

The Romans successfully used up most of the remaining seconds by replacing Scott Partridge with Dan Cleverley and although the final whistle signalled disappointment for the Milton Road faithful few could deny the Bath players, or indeed the travelling supporters who got behind their team throughout, a share of the points.

Although City missed the opportunity to capitalise on Saturday’s excellent away win and cement their place in the top ten it was obvious from the opening exchanges in difficult conditions that this was going to be a tough match. On the positive side City have now lost one once in their last ten league games and conceded only one goal in the last four home games. The whole back five turned in good performances, Martin Davies in particular looking sharper with every game and Craig Pope picking up where he left off before injury disrupted his season. The partnership between Lee Pluck and Matt Langston remains rock solid and it’s reassuring to know that even when City aren’t firing on all cylinders there’s every chance that they’ll continue to accumulate points with such a dependable rearguard.