Southern League Premier Division
Tuesday 14 February 2006 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.45pm
half-time: 1-1 result: W3-2 attendance: 405
team: Evans, Rollo (c), S Jones, Coupe, G Jones, Harris, Bird, Holloway, Walsh (Davidge 66), Partridge, Sandell. subs not used: Power, Clarke, Sykes, York.
man of the match: Tony Bird
scorers: Partridge (22), Bird (58,68)
bookings: none
officials: A Newell
league position: 5th form: WLDWWW next match: Cirencester (A)
Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

Bath City boss John Relish and an angry fan exchanged words instead of cards on Valentine's Day after the side's narrow win over basement boys Aylesbury. At the final whistle, Relish confronted a City supporter who he claims had been abusive to the team throughout the Southern Premier Division game. The fan was visibly shaken by the argument but the City manager stood by his actions claiming the abuse had gone too far. "We've got a good support base but there's a tiny minority that are very negative to what we're trying to achieve here and some of the abuse is beyond what we should accept," he explained. "A lot of the time it's unfounded too," added assistant manager Adie Britton. "Tonight we brought Phil Walsh off. It was doubtful whether we'd start him because of a hamstring problem. He comes off and certain people behind us shout a torrent of abuse. Even when we explain to them about the injury they're still abusive. What's it all about? It's crazy. We're happy to talk but to be that abusive and not talk about it is ridiculous."

City started brightly and pre-game predictions of a 5-0 thumping seemed well-founded. Their early pressure soon paid off when Adie Harris' powerful drive was palmed away by Kirk Reece to Andy Sandell. Sandell's cross-shot went straight to Partridge who tucked the ball away from close range. It all seemed to be going to plan but then complacency settled on City. Mistakes from Jim Rollo and Matt Coupe allowed Matthew Butler to run in and shoot. His effort was well saved by Paul Evans but Gutzmore was the first to react and almost tore out the roof of the net from close range. The goal served as a wake-up call for City's attack and they ended the first half the way they started it. With four minutes left, Bird smashed a 30-yard, first-time shot just over the bar and then Partridge wasted a great chance to restore City's lead after pouncing on Jon Holloway's flick-on only to fire his shot too close to the diving Reece who turned the ball away.

The second half started slowly but just when the visitors looked like they might grab something from the game the Ducks were struck by a dose of Bird fluke. City striker Bird picked the ball up next to the touchline, 30 yards out, and swung a ball into the box which swerved, went over the keeper and landed in the top left hand corner. It looked spectacular but Bird was "non-commital" on whether it had been deliberate after the game. Aylesbury came back into it but fell two goals behind thanks to a spark of brilliance from Craig Davidge. The young winger picked up the ball in his own half and ran half the length of the pitch, beating two men for pace, before laying off to Bird who rifled the ball home from ten yards out. It looked like game over for Aylesbury but they hit back straight from the restart when Gutzmore bundled the ball home in-off the post. A nervous final 20 minutes followed but City created the only chances and Partridge hit the post in injury time.