British Gas Business Football League Premier Division
Monday 9 April 2007 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm
half-time: 0-0 result: W1-0 attendance: 2044
team: Evans, Simpson, Rollo (c), Coupe, Holland, Harris, Hogg (Clarke 90), Rogers (Davidge 88), Paul (Prosser 69), S Jones, Green. subs not used: G Jones, Holloway.
man of the match: Adie Harris
scorers: Paul (66)
bookings: Green (45), Rollo (81), Hogg (84)
officials: W Bull, E Hunt, M Fussell
league position: 1st form: WWWWLW next match: Northwood (A)
Report taken from by Stephen Ware

Bath City set up a potential promotion party at Twerton Park next Saturday after former Bluebird Martin Paul gave them a narrow derby victory against local rivals Chippenham. If City collect maximum points from tomorrow's trip to Northwood and repeat that feat against Maidenhead three days later, they will effectively be crowned BGB Premier Division champions. Elevation to Nationwide South would be confirmed if second-placed Team Bath fail to beat Banbury United next weekend. But, even if they do, City would have to lose all their remaining matches and the students win all theirs - while clawing back an almost insurmountable 25 goal difference deficit - to pip their landlords to the title.

Paul - who spent a period with Chippenham earlier this season - pounced midway through the second half in farcical fashion to secure a result to remember in a game to forget. Town's teenage goalkeeper Chris Snoddy looked shaky throughout and in the 66th minute he and his defence froze, allowing the striker's goal-bound pass to trickle towards the goal and eventually cross the line. It was a scruffy goal to decide a tense, competitive game, short on excitement, but one City just about deserved to win. Kevin Halliday almost smashed Chippenham level with quarter of an hour remaining as his 25-yard free kick had to be palmed over by Paul Evans. The City stopper caught another Halliday effort, this time from wide on the right, a minute later and Dave Gilroy twice threatened to burst through late on, though Town never really looked likely to level. As the visitors' frustration grew, Halliday was sent off at the death after receiving his second yellow card for needlessly handling the ball whenmaking a tackle. Alan Griffin then missed a last-gasp chance to steal a point as he hooked over in the goalmouth after a rare moment of panic in the home defence. Kye Holly got beyond Chris Holland early in the second half, though his weak shot was easily gathered by Evans. Jim Rollo then blasted into a crowd of players in the penalty area and Steve Jones' follow up was stifled, but Chippenham also had an opportunity when Gilroy headed against Matt Coupe from a Griffin centre. Former City-target Gilroy had the first sight of goal as he flicked over the bar in the fourth minute following an Iain Harvey volley, though the linesman flagged him offside. Sam Allison looked to have the beating of City skipper Rollo as Chippenham pressed in the opening stages, but the home defence dealt comfortably with the Bluebirds' early raids. City twice went close with headers - first when Paul glanced a Lewis Hogg free kick over and secondly when Holland nodded wide from another of the midfielder's set pieces. Rookie goalkeeper Snoddy's inexperience showed in the 21st minute and nearly cost Chippenham as he raced out of his goal, but got nowhere near a cross, allowing Holland to head just off target. Seven minutes from the end of a hard-fought first half, a rare bit of quality almost gave the hosts an interval advantage. Neat interplay between Scott Rogers and Mike Green on the left-hand side presented the former with a shooting chance and he drilled a low shot that Snoddy did well to get an arm to. Having redeemed himself somewhat with that save, Snoddy again fumbled in the 42nd minute, this time from a Hogg cross, and was fortunate Chippenham were first to the loose ball.