So it has happened, Tuesday 7th February the year of our Lord 2012 was the day Bath City's season died. With relegation all but confirmed, the FA Trophy has been providing some relief to the awfulness of the league campaign, and some tongue in cheek comments about City appearing at Wembley suddenly had started to seemed destined, we were going to be the non-league Middlesbrough, relegated but cup finalists.
However, it was not to be, and it all could have been so different! City's threadbare squad was highlighted by the fact that a full subs bench could not be named, and on that bench was one Josh Egan! Yes, the man we'd all been impressed with at the back end of last season, but who we assumed must have died given his non appearance (since an unused sub at FGR) was in, God we must be low on numbers. The fact Grimsby who'd smashed us 6-0 a few weeks back only heightened the sense of doom around TP.
Within the first 15 seconds City could have been behind, I hadn't even made it to the Popular Side and was part way around the Bath End when the shot went narrowly wide, Jesus this could get bad! It was bitterly cold at Twerton Park, but City began to get into the game, with loanee Chris Shepherd (Exeter winger) was looking lively, although following our usual trend he's 5'5" so no towering headers are expected!
Lee Phillips was battling bravely up front, but was much too isolated for much of the game. The Grimsby keeper James McKeown pulled off some handy saves, showing a prowess that was going to haunt City later.
City had the control of midfield (clearly Adie's main aim...in every game he's ever managed it seems) but were playing some good short passing, crisp, one-two football, with Stonehouse and Shepherd linking up very well. On 34 minutes Alex Russell fed Shepherd who with his incredibly low centre of gravity, pivoted cleverly around his marker and fired a shot towards goal, which took a slight deflection and nestled into the net.
Grimsby hit back almost immediately, but a superb full stretch dive from Glyn Garner tipped the ball around the post. The half time whistle blew and City were 1-0 up. The queue for the tea bar stretched a fair old way as everyone aimed for some sort of hot beverage to fight off the increasing cold, and ward off frostbite, I'm sure at one point a member of Scott of the Antarctic's team walked past muttering it wasn't that cold when Oates went outside for some time....
With my steaming cup of bovril (peppered of course) to keep spirits up the second half commenced. City had a great spell, Watkins was terrorising the fullback, Lee Phillips, described by Tim as the unluckiest man in football, turned brilliantly twice, but both times a despairing tackle robbed him of the ball just as the trigger was being pulled. The interplay between Shepherd and Stonehouse was even better in the second half, and one ein-zwei was top flight quality. However, this being City it couldn't last.
A freekick was awarded 25-30 yards out on the right side of the pitch, the ball was crossed in and Garner went up to punch the ball....and punched Sekani Simpson instead! Elding headed the ball over the line, while Simmo lay prostate on the turf. Garner must have one hell of a punch on him, as Simmo had to be subbed and good old reliable Jim Rollo came on as his replacement. 1-1 but City still playing the better football and creating more chances.
Stonehouse had a shot, which the keeper turned around the post, and from the resulting corner Jimmer connected perfectly, but somehow the ball was hacked off of the line. You started to sense this team in black and white is cursed this year. Especially when McKeown made a save that is beyond belief. The ball was whipped in, McKeown started to move towards the penalty spot to claim the ball, a defender got a head to it and diverted it towards goal, it has to be in, and somehow, somehow McKeown shifted his weight, changed direction and managed to tip it around the post. How he saved it I do not know, if that was City it would have gone in against us.
City were pushing for the win, but left themselves exposed, Grimsby broke down the left wing, crossed it and Robert Duffy was in acres of space, he trapped the ball and fired it home, but with the slack marking he had time to make a brew and have a biscuit if he had so desired. 1-2 and that was how it was to finish. Not before Cook managed to be even more of a dick than before, not only had he moaned on twitter prior to the game that he found it hard to be motivated when he'd be on the bench (try playing like a footballer and you might start you dickhead) he then was due to come on, but had to take off so many layers and took so long that Josh Egan came on instead. Awful man Jamie Cook if he had a soul he'd piss off and leave us be.
City actually played really well, and deserved more, but when your luck is down, it is truly down. Unbelievably we have 8 more home games to suffer through before this nightmare of a season finally finishes, the sooner it does the better.
P.s. since writing this Bath City have announced this http://bathcityfc.com/name-the-stadium-for-50/
unbelievable. Not only are we suffering the most awful season, some clown has come up with this and decided to make us laughing stocks. Christ its almost enough to make you watch rugby...
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