Twerton Park, home of Bath City based in Somerset and play their trade in the National League South. Nicknamed the “Romans” after the City’s Roman buildings and also nicknamed the “Stripes” as they play in Black & White stripes.
It’s another one of the Mike Bayly 100! It’s also my first Somerset ground! It’s actually the first time I have ever set foot in Somerset! I couldn’t help with a Bristol and Bath double today!! I’m very excited to see this ground!! My first National League South match as well, it’s Bath City vs Dover Athletic with a place in the National League at stake! COME ON!
The short journey from Bristol… Is interrupted by match day traffic of course… It’s not that far come on! The police vans pile on through… Why can’t we all just get along!? Why can’t we just bind together through football!? Not causing trouble… I’m getting there slowly but google maps is saying I’ll be there dead on kick off… We can do this! Where is this A4…?
2:59pm and I’m parked up at Curo, 7 minute walk to the ground… Not if I run it won’t be! 3:04pm and here I am… The game has kicked off already… Damn you match day traffic! £14 for this National League South tie! Hmmm… In the ground with 4 minutes played, not too shabby.
Kick Off! “Come on City! Come on City!” There’s certainly a community spirit here so far! Bath are looking the better of the 2 teams so far.
17 minutes in and Dover play a ball into the box from the left, it’s in towards Pavey with the looping header… Oooooh! It’s just wide! The Offside flag was up anyway.
25 minutes now and Bath have a corner, in it comes… It’s cleared for another corner, in it comes again… It’s headed on… It’s turned towards goal… Keeper parries it and it’s loose… Cody Cooke slides for it and gets there… OFF THE POST!! The keeper claims the loose ball. So close there for Bath!
5 minutes later and Bath have another corner, it’s whipped in again… Alex Fletcher flings himself at it… Just wide! So close again!
35th minute and Bath come forward, it’s played through to Alex Fletcher in the box on the left and he’s got plenty of space… He plays it across looking for Cody Cooke… It’s cleared by Dover… Why didn’t he shoot…? The Bath faithful have every right to not be happy there!
40 minutes on the clock and Dover play forward down the right, it’s played in low… Very poorly dealt with by the Bath defence there and it will come for Wanadio running in… Oh that’s fantastic!! What a finish that is!! Wanadio places it beautifully into the bottom corner from the edge of the box and Dover have the lead here! 0-1!
Right on half time now and Bath have a free kick on the right, in it comes… Kieran Parselle with the header… Wide! Half time here with Dover 1-0 in front.
Second half, 49th minute and Dover come forward, it’s played over to Wanadio on the left and he gets the ball onto his right foot for him to shoot… Good diving save there! Tipped wide for a corner, in it comes… Cleared by Bath.
57th minute and Dover give the ball away in midfield and Scott Wilson picks it up for Bath, he drives into the box on the right and he plays it across for Cody Cooke sliding in… Good save by the keeper!
68 minutes gone and Bath have a free kick on the left, it’s lumped into the box, it’s headed out to the right for Bath to pick up, it’s played in again… Keeper punches but only to Elliott Frear who goes for the volley… OH! So close! Just over! It’s coming for Bath you feel! “We are Bath! We are Bath! Oh we are we are we are Bath!” Bath fans still going for it!
76 minutes now and Dover play down the left, Wanadio has it and he cuts inside and shoots… Keeper saves again and it’s a corner for Dover, in it comes… Cleared by Bath.
Bath continue to press for the equaliser but they just can’t quite break down this resilient Dover back line. Into stoppage time and Bath have a throw in on the right, it’s a long one into the box… Dover clear… That’s it! Dover take the points!
FT: Bath City 0-1 Dover Athletic
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 5/10 – Decent from the Bath fans! A real community spirit at this club!
- The Ground: 10/10 – My new favourite ground! Sorry Boston and Matlock but this really is something else! Terraces, character, old stands and picturesque views of the hills of Somerset! Twerton Park, You Win!! LOVE it!
- Expense: 8/10 – £14 for the ticket and £30 in fuel for the road back, worth it? Not a bad game but definitely for the ground!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – I’ve had a fabulous day here in the South West! I have a new favourite ground and I haven’t seen any 0-0s!! I’ll have to come back to Somerset real soon!!
33/40
Went to the game, as a Bath City fan, honestly the atmosphere that game was terrible one of the worst of the season, fans are refusing to chant as there’s a lot of turmoil between them and the manager, usually we’re much, much better.
Anyway, cheers for coming to TP, such a historic stadium, and historic club, be good if you came down another time for a bigger game, it’s a little bit toxic atm
It certainly is one of those grounds worth re-visiting! I’ll see what I can do sometime mate, I hope things turn out for the better for the club and thank you for your comment!