British Gas Business Football League Premier Division
saturday 17 March 2007 - Northwood Park - kick off 3.00pm
half-time: 4-0 result: W4-0 attendance: 308
team: Evans, Simpson, Rollo (c), G Jones, Holland (Coupe 45), Harris (Clarke 65), Rogers, Hogg, Edwards, Walsh, McKeever (Green 53). subs not used: Davidge, Paul.
man of the match: Lewis Hogg
scorers: Hogg (15,24), McKeever (30), Edwards (42)
bookings: none
officials: A Degnarain, P O'Hare, S Hobbs
league position: 1st form: WWWDdW next match: Merthyr (H)
Report taken from by Stephen Ware

Bath City underlined their title credentials with a first-half demolition of Wealdstone that dispelled any fears they have been suffering a case of promotion jitters. A haul of just two points from the last two games had left fans fearing that their side might be about to flag in the run-in. But such worries were quickly dismissed by a first-half performance brimming with confidence and capped with clinical finishing in front of goal. City were dealt a double blow in the build up to the match with confirmation that striker Scott Partridge is ruled out for the season with a neck problem and that Steve Jones had not recovered from a facial injury. But they were handed a slice of good fortune when it emerged Stones' goalkeeper Lee Carroll had gone AWOL and defender Ben Martin was set to start in his place.

Darren Edwards was the first to test the makeshift stopper with a firm volley that he gathered comfortably as City poured forward in the opening stages. City appeared to adopt a shoot-on-sight policy to exploit Martin's inexperience, while Stones' youth No 1 was winging his way to the match. Phil Walsh and Mark McKeever both tried speculative efforts before the hosts nearly took a surprise lead when Stones' City namesake Dean Clark fired just wide after Graham Hall capitalised on a slip by Jim Rollo. City then seized control and a sublime piece of skill from Lewis Hogg gave them a 15th-minute lead. Returning after a two-game ban, the former Bristol Rovers man knocked the ball over the head of Lee Chappell, evaded several tackles before slotting it past the wrong footed Martin via a goalline deflection. The visitors continued to pummel Martin's goal and it was no surprise when Hogg doubled their lead with a superb 25-yard volley on 24 minutes after a McKeever corner had only been half-cleared. Things went from bad to worse for sorry Wealdstone on the half-hour when a double defensive mistake presented City with a gift-wrapped third goal. Firstly, Fergus Moore's slip allowed Edwards to burst free down the right. His drilled centre was then missed by Kevin Swift, allowing McKeever time to pick his spot. Edwards nearly made it four soon afterwards, but Paul Evans had to be alert at the other end, repelling a goalbound Montgomery shot with his feet. Martin - blameless for the first three goals - then showed his inexperience as he hesitated when coming to collect a corner and Edwards scrambled the ball home from close range amidst home protests. City had netted four goals from five shots on target and at that stage were threatening a cricket score.

To their credit, the hosts started the second half with more purpose, but a lack of quality in the final third meant they rarely tested Evans. The City stopper was twice nearly beaten in the space of a minute on the hour when he fumbled a cross behind and then seemed to be bundled to the ground as Theo Robinson shot wide from the resulting corner. However, he redeemed himself in the 64th minute, diving sharply down to his right to deny Clark from the penalty spot after Phil Walsh was deemed to have handled in the area. That was as close as Wealdstone came to scoring as City closed out the game to remain four points clear at the top of the BGB Premier Division and one step nearer Nationwide South.