Southern Counties CUP:
NEWBURY 1, BATH SCHOOLS 0
BATH Schools' second defeat on the trot saw
them crash out of the Southern Counties Cup after a 1-0
reverse at Newbury on Saturday.
After a
disappointing performance against Gloucester last week,
the Chronicle-sponsored Bath team were looking to put
things right in their first ever fixture against
Newbury.
The visitors began the game brightly and
immediately had Newbury on the back
foot.
Wing-backs Richard Watkins, from Chandag,
and Oldfield Park's Bradley Norris looked dangerous on
the ball and provided Southdown's Joe Symonds with the
first chance of the game.
But Bath failed to turn
their possession into goals and they were soon made to
pay when Newbury caught the visiting defence off-guard
to open the scoring on the stroke of
half-time.
Bath came out with new determination
in the second half and Symonds had another opportunity
to score after he was put through by a super pass from
the impressive Jordan Tillson.
But Symonds'
effort was saved by the Newbury goalkeeper, and the Bath
players began to wonder if it was to be their
day.
Continued pressure failed to produce an
equaliser and, as the game wore on and the Bath players
pushed forward, gaps began to appear in their midfield
and defence.
Had it not been for the heroics of
goalkeeper Sam Butler, Newbury would have put the game
well beyond the visiting team.
But Butler's
efforts were in vain as the final whistle sounded to end
Bath's interest in the cup for another
season.
Coach Tim Kirk said: "The boys listened
to what we had said about the game last week and they
began much better.
"However, they must be more
clinical in front of goal and keep the ball a bit better
at times.
"They are a better side than anyone we
have played so far but it's now a case of them being
able to believe that and show it on a
Saturday."
