Southern League Premier Division
Saturday 1 April 2006 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm
half-time: 0-0 result: W1-0 attendance: 773
team: Evans, Rollo (c), S Jones, Coupe, G Jones, Clarke (Sykes 66), Bird (Walsh 66), Holloway, Rogers, Partridge, Sandell (Davidge 45) subs not used: Dorrian, Power.
man of the match: Scott Rogers
scorers: Walsh (71)
bookings: Walsh (85)
officials: M Downey (Hounslow), K Banrett (Swindon), A Bird (Chippenham)
league position: 2nd form: WWWLdW next match: Cheshunt (A)
Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

When it comes to playing Rugby and hitting late winners, Bath City have found their own Jonny Wilkinson in Phillip Walsh. The City striker bounced back from being dropped for the first time since November by coming off the bench to head the game's only goal against Rugby Town and keep Bath City's title hopes alive. After a run of 25 starts, the usually over-energetic Walsh had shown signs of tiredness over the last few weeks with some, if not lazy, then certainly lethargic performances. Relish made the brave decision to drop the target man and it ultimately proved correct with an inspired double substitution midway through the second half holding the key to victory against a Rugby side who had clearly arrived at Twerton in search of a point. They made City sweat for their win though.

The referee's whistle at kick-off was greeted by a sudden blast of torrential rain and the opening deluge literally put the skids on both sides as they tried to play the ball around. If anything Rugby seemed to adapt to the slippery conditions quickest but there was precious little excitement on offer with some sloppy passing and poor control from either side. Kevin Slinn had already headed over from a corner when Tim Wooding drew the first save of the game from Paul Evans with a free-kick. Jon Holloway headed over twice from corners as City responded but it was only as the half drew to a close that Relish's side started to show the sort of form that has put them into title contention. A threaded ball from Holloway put Scott Partridge through but his shot was deflected and looked to be heading past the far post until Scott Rogers just managed to keep it in play. After doing the hard work, the otherwise impressive Rogers opted to try and curl the ball in from a near-impossible angle and only succeeded in clearing the cross bar. City piled on the pressure as the half drew to a close, with Partridge again going close, but Rugby held on until the break.

City did not let up in the second half though. After a few minutes adjusting to Rugby's new-look ten man defence, they finally started to create some chances. A good run out of defence from Gethin Jones paved the way for a driven shot from Craig Davidge which was brilliantly stopped and held by Azerbaijani keeper Farhad Afandiyev, who was outstanding all game. Tony Bird then opted to try and play Partridge through, instead of shooting with just the keeper to beat, but his pass went too far in front of his strike partner. The game's turning point came on 66 minutes with the introduction of substitutes Walsh and Alex Sykes with Walsh heading home the winner at the back post from a Jim Rollo cross just five minutes later. Rugby finally went on the attack after that but only succeeded in creating more space for City to exploit. A flurry of chances followed for the team from Twerton. Partridge hit a dipping shot just over the cross bar from 25 yards before glancing the outside of the post with an effort from the edge of the area. Another run from the exceptional Gethin Jones saw the centre-half burst into the box only to slice his final shot wide with the keeper to beat but City somehow failed to increase their lead before the referee finally blew for full-time.