Page 29 - Bath City v Chippenham Town - Saturday 2 January 2021 - VNLS

TACTICALLY SPEAKING

A side from Monday’s defeat to Hungerford Town, City far won in the National League South this season, they
have seen an upturn in results and performances with recorded less possession, fewer shots on goal and
wins over Dorking Wanderers and Chelmsford City fewer corners and yet were victorious. Football has
in the league as well as a draw at today’s opponents long been about more than possession and corners
Chippenham Town. Added to this, we have overcome but it is usually apparent at the end of the season that
Chelmsford again and Swindon Supermarine in the the teams forcing more corners, creating more shots
FA Trophy and we were very unfortunate to not earn on goal and holding onto the ball more, will be more
a draw at Concord Rangers last month, conceding an successful.
injury time goal. The reason I highlight this brings me There are of course exceptions. Monday’s opponents
onto the table of statistics below. Hungerford have an average possession stat of 43.7%
The table shows City’s results and stats from each compared to City’s 51.9%. Likewise, they average
match, courtesy of the excellent website totalcorner. 3.4 corners, one of the lowest in the division whereas
com. Here we can see the number of corners, shots City have on average 3.7 corners per match. This
on goal and possession that City and their opponents has increased in recent games with the sight of James
have recorded in each match. Green indicates City Taylor and Freddie Grant getting forward more,
had more than the opposition, red less and yellow the and the half time change in shape on Monday to
same. The increase in green in recent matches shows wingbacks in a 3-5-2 system saw seven second-half
City`s form has improved with the better results also corners won. Finally, Hungerford produce an average
indicating a greater degree of possession and chances of just 3.7 shots on goal in a game which compares
in games, in relation to the greater degree of red seen less favourably to City, 4.4 and Chippenham, 4.5.
from earlier in the season. However, what strikes me
immediately is that in the three matches City have so ADAM MATRAVERS

BATH CITY MATCH STATS – 2020/21 Vanarama National League South
DATE OPPONENTS RESULT SHOTS ON SHOTS OFF CORNERS POSSESSION Y R
06/10/20 Oxford City (A) L0-2 4-2 8-1 4-5 43-57 3-1 0-0
10/10/20 Billericay Town W2-0 6-3 2-9 1-7 47-53 2-1 0-0
(H)
17/10/20 Dartford (A) L0-1 2-2 11-10 6-0 51-49 3-3 0-0
31/10/20 Slough Town L1-2 6-4 14-2 8-1 2-0 0-0
(A)
07/11/20 Hemel L1-2 2-6 5-7 4-8 57-43 4-1 0-0
Hempstead
Town (H)
21/11/20 Hampton & L0-1 4-5 6-8 4-1 52-48 1-2 0-0
Richmond
Borough (A)
24/11/20 Dulwich Hamlet L1-4 4-5 8-6 5-2 52-48 2-3 0-0
(H)
05/12/20 Dorking W2-1 11-6 8-4 10-2 63-37 1-4 0-2
Wanderers (A)
08/12/20 Concord L2-3 7-9 7-4 5-5 46-54 0-3 0-0
Rangers (A)
12/12/20 Chelmsford W4-3 8-5 10-3 6-4 57-43 3-3 1-0
City (A)
26/12/20 Chippenham D1-1 3-4 6-9 2-4 34-66 1-2 1-1
Town (A)
28/12/20 Hungerford L0-2 4-3 3-3 9-2 61-39 0-0 0-0
Town (H)

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