Weekend Bath based Preview
FA Cup weekend for Bath City FC
By Mark Tanner
Bath City FC take on Shortwood United in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, on Saturday 11th 3pm ko at Twerton Park. Shortwood play in the Southern League Division One and are currently 7th with 19 points from 11 games, ahead of near City rivals Larkhall on goal difference. Adie Britton has come out recently stating that City will have to put in a real shift to beat them; which will mean £7,500 for the depleted coffers if they win. Prices are kept the same as league games and the gate money will be split between the two sides.
Bristol Rovers are unbeaten in their last 3 games after playing teams that many of their fans would have never thought they would play in the league, in Eastleigh, Dover and Dartford Town. Rovers picked up 5 points of a possible 9 and Darrell Clarke will know they will have to improve when they face Aldershot Town away on Saturday, ko 3pm.
Larkhall will travel to Fleet Town on Saturday 11th with a 3pm ko. Wayne Thorne and the lads will be looking for a response after coming up against a very good Merthyr Town side on Wednesday night at home, going down 5-2. There is coach running to the game leaving London Road at 11.15pm with the price just £10, please contact Clive Burge before hand on 07527197793.
Odd Down are also on the road this Saturday as they take on newly promoted Bradford Town at 3pm. Off the back of their excellent 3-1 win over early league leaders Bristol Manor Farm last weekend they will be confident of the win over Bradford. However Bradford On Avon have adapted well to life in the higher division and are currently mid table with eyes firmly on a top half finish.
Keynsham Town will be looking to improve on their travels this Saturday with a trip to Welton Rovers, 3pm ko. Under Chris King they have improved and ran Plymouth Parkway close in the FA Vase last weekend with a 3-2 loss at the AJN Stadium. However league form is still a slight cause for concern, with the team just fourth from bottom. So a win this weekend will give this young side the lift it needs to start climbing up the table again.
On to the Rugby and Bath Rugby; they travel away to WASPS on Sunday in a 2pm ko. After a dominate win over the Saracens at the Rec last Friday night they can expect a tough test from the High Wycombe based side. Bath will be confident to add to their points tally in this game thought with Kyle Eastmond winning the League’s player of the month award this week and Nick Auterac claiming to be the strongest player in the squad.
Avon Rugby travel to Cheltenham this weekend in the Tribute Western Counties North on Saturday; ko 3pm. The two sides have the complete opposite form over the last 5 games with Avon winning 4 and losing one. So Clive Book will looking for another professional performance over a side at the wrong end of the table. Steve Bird will be bringing us the match report after the game.
Finally Bath Futsal Club are without a game this weekend, which may be help them prepare their threadbare squad for the following weekend. They have now changed their manager with Michael Wootten stepping down as first team manager to concentrate on his own performances on pitch with Billy Whittaker taking the helm. The team have now officially got more injured players than fit players who are able to compete in the National League. This week’s development squad game against the top of the table side in the local futsal league may be the perfect time to give game time to a few new faces for Whittaker to take a look at.
