BATH CITY 0 BRISTOL ROVERS 1
By Darren Stobbs
Leaving Bristol just after 5.00pm with fellow Away Travel Organiser, Martin Hudd, we arrived at Twerton Park just after 5:30pm, claiming a prime parking space just outside the ground.
Interestingly, a young Bristol City supporter turned up with a friend and looked hesitant to enter ‘Fortress Twerton’. I was sure he had been put for a ‘dare’ challenge or that he had simply gone to the wrong ground! He was certainly in for some stick inside the ground with heads turning in amazement as he went in!
We made our way to the Clubhouse Bar under the main stand which was doing a steady trade. A well known face to Gasheads in the bar was Lewis Hogg. As soon as I saw him I immediately thought of ‘that’ goal he scored at Goodison Park to equalise, sending the away end crazy and bringing Everton back to The Mem for a Cup replay.
We entered Twerton Park at 6:30pm with overcast skies above us, paying on the day by card on the turnstiles; that’s the first time I’ve paid this way at a ground before.
The food outlet inside the ground was doing a roaring trade, with a large queue already formed. We decided to take our position behind the goal at The Bath End. It’s the first time I’ve stood in that part of Twerton Park; I used to stand in the Family Enclosure in the early 1990’s and also on the Popular Side – where I saw my first Rovers game, on a cold rainy midweek night.
Looking around, there is something special about the ground and it holds so many good memories for myself and fellow Gasheads. It’s like a second home to us and I would gladly move back there for a season if The Mem was ever to be completely redeveloped.
On to kick off and both teams started brightly but with little goalmouth action, although some good link up play allowed for some half decent chances for Rovers. Promise Omechere was increasingly causing problems for The Romans defence but we went in 0-0 at the break.
In the second half Rovers had the better of the play with substitute Luke Thomas a real threat down the left hand side.
Rovers scored a well worked goal, following a decent free kick to the back post where Bryant Bilongo found the net with a first time finish.
Bath threatened late on with some good play at times, but Rovers were worthy of the 1-0 win.
All in all, I concluded that it was a better performance than the Chippenham game, but there’s still a lot to work to do on various aspects of our game.
We arrived back in Bristol at 9:15pm; taking advantage of a short journey back which won’t happen too many times this coming season!
Omochere was my Man of the Match in front of an excellent attendance of 2,205 which was, apparently, a record attendance for Bath City in a friendly match.
Photos courtesy Bristol Rovers