Chelmsford City FC V Bath City FC, National League South, Melbourne Community Stadium, Saturday 16th March 2024, 3pm kick-off.
Chelmsford City face another tough test against a fellow promotion chasing side this weekend, as Robbie Simpson’s Clarets look to bounce back from a midweek defeat away to Maidstone United when they welcome Bath City to Essex.
The Clarets remain 2nd in the National League South standings and are looking to secure a second win of the season over Bath City, after beating the Romans 3-2 in a dramatic game at Twerton Park in December.
Jerry Gill’s side will be looking to exact their revenge for the defeat they suffered that day, when the Clarets overturned the Romans’ two goal lead despite playing most the game with 10-men following Jazzi Barnum-Bobb’s red card.
Bath City ended a winless run of four full league games last time out when they beat Hemel Hempstead in their midweek fixture, and the Somerset side will now be seeking to record back-to-back victories to cement their current playoff position of 7th in the table.
Here’s all that Clarets supporters need to know ahead of the game…
Team & match stats:
- Bath City have lost three league games away from home this season. No side in the National League South have lost less games on their travels.
- Jerry Gill’s team also have the strongest defensive away record in the league this season, having conceded 19 away goals in 23-24.
- The Romans have won on two of their last three visits to Melbourne Community Stadium.
- Since Bath’s return to the National League South in 2012-13, the Clarets have only completed a league double over the Romans once (in the 21-22 campaign).
Opposition:
Bath City’s search for a return to the National League for the first time since 2012 is well and truly on, with the Romans firmly in contention to secure one of the six playoff places available at the end of the National League South season. A defensively solid outfit with numerous reliable goal-scorers, the Somerset-side will pose a tough test for City on Saturday.
Two current Romans players have already surpassed the 10-goal mark in the league this season, with forwards Cody Cooke and Scott Wilson both enjoying impressive individual campaigns so far in front of goal. Cooke has scored 15 league goals for his side, including a brace against the Clarets back in December, when the forward dispatched two penalties in his side’s 3-2 defeat to City. Cooke has been absent from Bath’s squad in the club’s last two league games, and it remains to be seen if the 31-year-old will make a comeback in Essex this weekend.
Trailing just behind Cooke in Bath’s list of top scorers is Wilson, who has scored for his side 14 times in the league so far this season. Wilson recorded his first league goal since Boxing Day during the Romans’ 2-0 win over Hemel Hempstead on Tuesday night. Wilson and Cooke’s goals account for nearly half of Bath’s total goal tally of 60 league goals scored so far this season, with the forward duo having scored a combined 29 strikes in 23-24.
In defence, Jerry Gill has depended on left back Danny Greenslade and centre back Kieran Parselle in particular. The defensive duo have only missed one league game each so far this campaign, and have been key in helping the Romans hold the 3rd strongest defensive record in the National League South. Only Chelmsford City (36) and Yeovil Town (40) have conceded less goals than the 42 which the Romans have let in.
Team News:
Finley Barbrook will be available for this weekend’s game, with the Ipswich loanee’s suspension for his red card against Maidstone United set to begin next week.
Ticketing information:
Ticket prices online:
Adult – £14Concession/Senior (65+) – £9Student (17-24 with valid ID) – £4Youth (12-17) – £4Under-12s – Free
Supporters can also buy tickets on the day at Melbourne Community Stadium. Matchday turnstile prices are as follows:
Adult – £17.00Concession/Senior (65+) – £12.00Student (17-24 with valid ID) – £6.50Youth (12-17) – £6.50Under-12s – Free
How to follow the game:
Radio Clarets will provide live audio commentary of proceedings at Melbourne Community Stadium.
Clarets fans can find pre-match coverage of Saturday’s match and live updates of proceedings in Essex by following the club’s X (formerly Twitter) page: @OfficialClarets and Instagram page: chelmsfordcityfc.
Post-match reactions will be found on the club’s website, official social media channels and on ClaretsTV.
Words by Jake Dixon.
by