Chelmsford City start a busy November with a minimum of 8 games scheduled in the month. They start that crazy period on the 1st of the month with a long trip to 7th place Bath City on Tuesday night, 7.45pm kick off. This match was due to place originally at the start of September but it was rescheduled due to the sad passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II just under 2 months ago.
The opposition
Bath City sit in 7th place after 15 games in the Vanarama National League South this season. They have won 7, drawn 4 and lost 4, scoring 28 goals and conceding 22 in the league campaign so far which all adds up to 25 league points so far. The Romans had a very strong August but have recently not been in the best of form with a surprise home defeat to Sevenoaks in the FA Cup and then recent home defeats to Hungerford and Dover. Bath’s best form this year has been on the road with only 1 defeat on their travels this year and that was at table-toppers Ebbsfleet. However, like Chelmsford, Bath were struggling at the wrong end of the table last campaign and so supporters must be more pleased with the start to the season they have had so far.
In terms of players, Bath had played Millwall loanee keeper Joe Wright in net all season but he was missing for the last game with a shoulder injury so 40 year old Ryan Clarke made his first league appearance of the season. In defence they have former Chippenham player Kieran Parselle who moved down the M4 in the summer to become Bath City captain. They also have long-serving centre-back Jack Batten and former Exeter loanee Jordan Dyer who made his move permanent to Twerton Park in the summer. In midfield they have a lot of experience in the shape of former Bristol Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday man Chris Lines, as well as former Grimsby and Torquay player Luke Spokes. They also have former Motherwell and Forest Green winger Elliott Frear who is a dangerous customer from wide areas. Up front they have one of the most prolific marksman in the league in the shape of Cody Cooke who has 11 from 14 league games this season. Supplementing him they have Alex Fletcher who scored 16 National League South goals last season and has 6 already this year and they have brought in experienced front-man Scott Wilson who has been at Macclesfield, Oldham and Dagenham and has rejoined Bath after a spell there in 2014.
Bath’s boss is a legend of the club in Jerry Gill. He played for Bath between 1990 and 1996 and then went on to play for Birmingham, Northampton and Cheltenham. He returned to Somerset to become Bath manager in 2017 and has led them to the playoffs twice in his spell in charge. Speaking to the club’s Youtube channel he said regarding Chelmsford, “They have been one of the surprises of the season. They have a good manager and they have recruited well throughout the spine of the team. They’ve gone and scored 5 goals against Eastbourne but it’s a game to look forward to and it’s a game that’s going to be really tough but we’ll be ready Tuesday night.”
Previous Meetings
City did the double over Bath City last season with victory by a single goal both home and away. Goals from Dara Dada and Adam Morgan beat Bath in Somerset last season and a solitary Tom Blackwell goal was enough for City at Melbourne in January although Bath were denied a late penalty when the referee overturned his initial decision after a chat with his assistant. That win at Bath last season was City’s first there since 2017 when Kudus Oyenuga and Lee Barnard scored as the Clarets came from a goal down to win 2-1.
Team News
Khale Da Costa and Louis Dunne both returned from injury to take their place on the bench on Saturday, with Dunne returning to action for the last half-hour. Central defender Ade Oluwo went off with a knock on Saturday but should be fit for the game. With a packed schedule Robbie Simpson may wish to rotate but it will be difficult to change a side that just won 5-0.
Ticket News
Tickets are now available to be purchased in advance of the 7.45pm kick-off on Tuesday and can be bought by clicking this link. Prices are the same online and on the gate. Online sales will stop at 4pm on Tuesday 1st November.
Adult – £15
Senior (65+) – £12
Full-Time Student & 16-18 year olds – £8
Under 16s – £3
Where to follow the game…
The Club will be only providing coverage of the game on Twitter (@OfficialClarets) using the hashtag #TheClarets.
There will also be live audio commentary from Radio Clarets.
Post-match reports and interviews will be found on the club website, social media and ClaretsTV following the game.
How to get there
FROM M4
Exit M4 at junction 18 and follow A46 signposted Bath. After 8 miles before tunnel keep in left hand lane (Bath A4) to roundabout. Take 3rd exit and follow signs for A4 Bath. After 1 mile turn left at traffic lights signed A4 Bristol/A36 Warminster. Follow A4 signs around southern perimeter of the city for 3 miles. After passing Bathwick Tyres on the left, in 100 yards at traffic lights turn left, signposted Twerton, through a railway arch with a 11ft 6in height restriction.* Twerton Park is 200 yards on the left after a row of shops.
*For drivers of vehicles unable to negotiate the railway arch, continue along the A4 for a further 2 miles, through a set of traffic lights and onto a dual carriageway to “The Globe” roundabout. Take the 1st exit off roundabout (Combe Down, Newton St Loe), and follow for 1 mile and take the left turn at the bottom of the hill signposted Twerton (Newton Road). Follow this road for 1 mile to enter Twerton. Entrance to the stadium is on the right, the access road being next to McColl’s.
ALTERNATIVE, RECOMMENDED ROUTE FROM THE M4, AVOIDING THE ALWAYS-CONGESTED CITY CENTRE
Exit M4 at junction 19 for the M32. Follow the lane signposted A4174 leaving the M32 at the first junction you come to. Turn left at the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road. Continue on the ring road until you reach a roundabout where the A4 joins the A4174 ring road. The A4 will be signposted Bath. Turn left at this roundabout and go along a dual carriageway until the next roundabout. Go straight across this roundabout and go through Saltford until you reach another roundabout. Take the second exit going past the Globe pub. Proceed up a hill and down the other side where there is a left hand turn at the bottom, signposted Twerton (Newton Road). Take this turn and proceed for about 1 mile. Entrance to the stadium is on the right, the access road being next to McColl’s.
It is set to be a chilly night with just 10 degrees expected at kickoff and it is set to be raining so bring waterproofs or stay under cover!
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