Page 34 - Bath City v Dulwich Hamlet - Tuesday 24 November 2020 - VNLS

LOOKING BACK 1989/90 CONTINUED

With Dover in danger of running away with the league serious business of the league with another trip to the
even at this early stage, City needed to pick up all midlands to play Moor Green. Jim Preston returned
three points from the visit of struggling Crawley to between the posts but didn’t find himself with a shot
Twerton Park. to save in a first-half that City dominated. For all
Both sides had chances to take the lead in the first their superiority though, they didn’t create a clear cut
half and City could have been three goals ahead by chance and it took a disputed Paul Randall penalty to
the 16th minute, with John Freegard (twice) and Jeff put them ahead a minute before half-time.
Meacham failing to find the target though. It was then Rob Cousins made it 2-0 five minutes into the second
Crawley’s turn to spurn a couple of openings before half, and with six minutes left he had the chance to
Jeff Meacham failed to take advantage just before seal the game shooting wide after outpacing three
the interval after the Crawley offside trap had been defenders. Moor Green pulled a goal back two
outwitted. minutes later but City held on for three more vital points
The second half followed a similar pattern, Paul in their pursuit of leaders Dover.
Randall, Jeff Meacham and Chris Smith all having
chances for City, but, as so often happens in these The following Tuesday saw City play in their third
situations, it was Crawley who took the lead, different competition in the space of a week, with the
Robinson putting them ahead with a shot from 30 visit of Gloucester to Twerton Park for a 1st Round tie
yards. The game seemed to be slipping away from in the Premier Inter League Challenge Cup (which was
City until Gary Smart – on in place of John Freegard fortunately known more concisely as the Clubcall Cup
– scored in the 87th minute and they very nearly because of its sponsorship by BT). It was competed
snatched all three points right at the death when a Paul by teams from the Beazer Homes (Southern), Vauxhall
Randall cross almost resulted in an own goal. (Isthmian) and HFS Loans (Northern Premier) Leagues,
City finished September with a visit to the midlands to although Conference clubs had played in it the
play V S Rugby, with a fit again Gary Smart restored previous season.
to the starting line-up at the expense of Jeff Meacham Gloucester were now managed by Brian Godfrey, and
who dropped to the bench, and new signing Phil included in their team former City players Dave Payne
Underhill from Torquay replacing the injured Paul (who was to return to Twerton Park before the end of
Stevens at right back. the season) and Gary Fulbrook, along with Ian Hedges
Having dropped two points against Crawley, City who would go on to make over 200 appearances for
were determined to pick up the maximum from this City after a spell with Bournemouth.
game and had the best of what few chances there Dave Payne gave the visitors a half-time lead with a
were, John Freegard’s header in the 35th minute 39th minute header, John Freegard equalising for City
giving them a 1-0 half time lead. seven minutes into the second half. City then went on
City were rarely troubled in the second half, and apart to hit the bar twice before Paul Randall scored the
from one minor scare, never really looked likely to winner after John Freegard had diverted Chris Smith’s
concede a goal, the three points being enough to take cross into his path.
them into second place above Dartford.
October 1990 was to see City play in no fewer than LES BINGHAM
five different competitions, starting with a 2nd Round
Welsh Cup tie against Pontyclun at Twerton Park.
With the exception of Steve Langley in goal and
Toby Jackson at right back, it was a full strength City
side and, after an early scare, they soon made their
superiority show.
John Freegard scored in the 18th and 19th minutes
and Rob Cousins – with his first City goal – and Paul
Randall made it 4-0 by half time.
The second half was a similar procession towards
the Pontyclun goal, Gary Smart scoring twice and
Keith Brown and Tony Ricketts once each before John
Freegard completed his hat-trick four minutes from time
as City recorded a 9-0 win for the second successive
season.

After the romp against Pontyclun, City returned to the
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