Page 34 - Bath City v Hemel Hempstead Town - Saturday 7 November - VNLS

LOOKING BACK 1989/90 CONTINUED

Despite having played just 24 hours before, City shot only just cleared Jim Preston’s crossbar.
fielded an unchanged team for their Welsh Cup replay Waterlooville had a couple of chances in the second
at Cheltenham, where, for the third game in a row, half but the game appeared to be drifting towards
they had to come from behind. City’s second successive 0-0 draw until Jim Preston
Cheltenham took the lead just before the half-hour made an uncharacteristic error 10 minutes from time.
mark, but City equalised a minute before half-time Pope’s cross from the left seemed harmless enough, but
when John Freegard’s header went in off a post. with no players near him, the keeper let the ball slip
City were very much on top in the second half, and through his hands and over the line to see City suffer
only a string of saves by Cheltenham keeper Alan their first defeat since the opening day.
Churchward – soon to move to Twerton Park as cover In a bid to get back to winning ways, George Rooney
for Jim Preston – denied them before he was beaten shuffled the pack again for the visit to Chelmsford. Jeff
by a Paul Randall shot four minutes from time, to take Meacham was restored to the attack in place of Dave
them into the next round. Singleton, and Rob Cousins came in for his first game
City’s run of five successive league victories since the of the season in midfield.
opening day defeat at Cambridge was about to face Chelmsford had by far the best of the first 20 minutes
its sternest test with the visit of Dartford - managed posing a lot of problems for the City defence, and it
at the time by ex-England, Spurs and Crystal Palace was against the run of play when Paul Randall put
winger Peter Taylor - who, like leaders Dover, still had the visitors ahead from a corner. Jeff Meacham had
a 100% record. a goal disallowed five minutes later for a handball
In the corresponding game, the previous season had in the build-up, and having weathered the storm of
very much been ‘a game of two halves’, City turning Chelmsford’s early pressure, City got on top as half-
a 2-0 half time deficit into a 4-2 victory, but this one time approached.
lacked any similar spark as the two sides effectively They carried on in the second half where they had left
cancelled each other out. off before the break, and should have extended their
City named an unchanged starting XI, although Jeff lead on the hour mark. Jeff Meacham’s goal-bound
Meacham, having recovered from injury, took one of shot was handled, the Chelmsford keeper then saving
the places on the bench where he was joined by new Paul Randall’s penalty and the rebound rolling wide
signing from Cardiff Nick Denton. Peter Taylor named of the gaping net. Ironically, it was then a mistake by
himself as one of the Dartford substitutes, the keeper that allowed Jeff Meacham to extend City’s
lead from a corner.
Chances were few and far between in the first half,
Conner and Gale having the best for the visitors while Chelmsford were given a lifeline with nine minutes left,
Dave Singleton and John Freegard went close for City. Jim Preston being sent the wrong way from the penalty
The second half followed a similar pattern, Peter Taylor spot after he had given away a needless penalty,
bringing himself on for the last quarter of an hour but but City held on to return to winning ways. The three
making little difference. Apart from Paul Randall failing points kept City in 3rd place, leaders Dover setting a
to take advantage of a Paul Stevens pass that had strong pace with eight wins out of eight.
split the Dartford defence, and Jim Preston needing to
be alert to keep out a header from a Dartford corner,
there wasn’t much goalmouth action, and the goalless LES BINGHAM
scoreline was a fair reflection of a drab game between
two strong sides. One consolation for City though was
a season best attendance of 720.
Having failed to score for the first time that season
on Saturday, City had the chance to return to
winning ways just three days later when they visited
Waterlooville. George Rooney made a couple of
changes to the starting line-up, Ian Beare and Martin
Filson (who became another member of the ‘one
appearance club’) coming in to the side.
City had the best of the early stages, Paul Randall
twice having the chance to put them ahead. As early
as the 5th minute a weaving run ended with a shot that Jeff Meacham:
the home keeper did well to push out for a corner, and
15 minutes later, he was set up by Dave Singleton, but
could only head straight at the goalkeeper. City almost
paid the price just before half time, when a deflected
34