First win comes at a cost as new signing is injured
Bath City managed their first victory of pre-season, winning 2-1 at Swindon Supermarine on Saturday, although attentions will turn to new signing Donovan Wilson who limped off after just 15 minutes with a thigh injury.
Swindon started brightly and forced Ryan Clarke into an fingertip save from Kotwica, but Bath grew into the game as the half wore on and a low cross was turned over by Lloyd James at ful stretch.
Supermarine continued to pose a threat but neither side could muster any clear-cut chances and it remained 0-0 at half-time. The deadlock was finally broken after the hour when Tom Smith fired home after keeper Horsell had twice denied one of Bath’s four trialists in the squad.
It was another of the trialists who set up the second 12 minutes later when his low cross was turned into his own net by Shepherd. Supermarine saw Mcdonagh’s finish ruled out for offside as they tried to get back into the game, but did manage a consolation in the final minute as Liddiard headed past Clarke from a corner.
Wilson, a 23-year-old striker, was announced by Bath before the match having joined training on Thursday. Donovan started in the youth set up at Bristol Rovers before being signed by Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2015 which included loan spells at Port Vale and Exeter City alongside two spells in Spain with Jumilla and Burgos.
Bath manager Jerry Gill said: “I am so excited we have been able to sign Donovan on a long term contract. He had an offer on the table from a National League Premier club but chose us instead which has naturally really pleased me.
“I know Donovan not only as a player but also as a person very well. Having worked together for some time at Wolves when he was an U23 player, it helps that the relationship and trust is already there. We are getting a striker who is powerful, athletic and a natural very good finisher. The fans are going to really enjoy watching him play in a Romans shirt.”
Wilson added: “I’m really happy to sign for Bath City and get back to playing week in week out after this prolonged break from football. I’ve known Jerry for a while now going back from our time working at Wolves so when he contacted me I knew it would be the right fit. I’m a direct player who likes to score goals.
“Hopefully I can bring some excitement to the fans and help the team progress even further.”
Another new signing for Bath is 22-year-old goalkeeper Will Henry who trained with the club during the play-offs before returning for pre-season and featuring in the first two friendlies. Henry has EFL experience with Swindon Town.
Gill said: “In signing Will, we have a goalkeeper of high level quality competing for the starting jersey.”
Bath have also announced that BWW Communications will be new shirt sponsors after the shirt sponsorship draw took place.
Nick Foot, a Bath City season ticket holder and CEO at BWW said: “I am delighted to be able to say that BWW is ‘over the moon’ at the news. I have never enjoyed football more than since becoming a regular at Twerton Park, and I am that our sponsorship will help keep the team playing fabulous football for the coming season.
“Both Hilary Manning-morton [co-director at BWW and season ticket holder] and I are looking forward to standing on the terraces again very soon and cheering on the team. Up the Romans.”
BWW Communications logo will be displayed on the front of Bath City’s first team home and away shirts for the coming season. Second prize went to Maddison Plumbing who will have their name on the back of the shirts next season. The third prize went to The Guitar and Pedal Exchange who will have their name on the shorts, other prizes went to Castle Scaffolding, Sixteen Films and Bath Demolition.
Vanarama National League South
P bath city ............................................. 0 Billericay Town .......................................... 0 Braintree Town ......................................... 0 Chelmsford City ....................................... 0 Chippenham Town ................................... 0 Concord Rangers ..................................... 0 Dartford ................................................... 0 Dorking Wanderers ................................... 0 Dulwich Hamlet ....................................... 0 Eastbourne Borough ................................ 0 Ebbsfleet United ...................................... 0 Hampton & Richmond Borough ............... 0 Havant & Waterlooville ............................. 0 Hemel Hempstead Town .......................... 0 Hungerford Town ...................................... 0 Maidstone United .................................... 0 Oxford City ............................................... 0 Slough Town ............................................. 0 St Albans City .......................................... 0 Tonbridge Angels ...................................... 0 Welling United ......................................... 0
Pre-season Fixtures
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D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
L 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
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