‘We’ve come a long way over past three weeks’
Jerry Gill did not use his team’s late arrival for the match at Concord as an excuse for Tuesday’s defeat.
An 11-vehicle pile-up near Hertfordshire caused 14 miles of delays and meant the team coach was at a standstill for an hour and a half, resulting in a hasty warm-up and delayed start at the Aspect Arena.
Concord took advantage to leapfrog Bath City in National League South with a cruel late winner.
“I really feel for my team tonight,” said Gill. “We’ve been on that bus over six hours today. That’s no preparation for any team.
“Credit to the boys to start as well as they did, and throughout the whole game for how they performed physically.
“We deservedly went 1-0 up with a really good set-piece, but we’ve then conceded two really poor goals.
“It’s three goals against us which is really poor. You’re asking too much of yourselves.
“The performance didn’t merit that. We carved them open several times, but they’ve got a physical presence and that’s what’s won the game for them.”
Tommy Conway put City back on level terms from the spot and Gill was impressed with the forward’s showing in which he scored his first goal since the win over Billericay in October.
“He did really well all night and was brave enough to step up for the penalty,” said Gill. “It felt like we were the only ones who were going to win the game then.
“We felt in the ascendancy, but they wanted to make the game bitty so the last 15 minutes became free
kicks, set-pieces, really slowing the game down.
“Some of our football second half was really good. I’m counting four or five chances.
“The longer it went on you know they might get a set-piece and they just crowded us out in the box. It was a wicked delivery and we couldn’t deal with it.”
Dan Ball limped off in the second half with an ankle knock, stretching a depleted back-line with Freddie Grant and Callum Evans already out.
“That’s just the way the season’s
going at the moment,” said Gill in disbelief. “There’s a crash on the M25, Covid in the camp, injuries, sendings off.
“I don’t mind if it comes in one season, hopefully it means the following season won’t be as bad.
“We’ve just got to get on with it. It’s no good sitting around sulking.”
Ryan Charles’ late intervention made it five defeats from six away from home in the league for City, with three of the winners against them arriving in the final five minutes of games, costing them six extra points.
“We’re a million miles better than we were three weeks ago,” said Gill. “Performance levels then were ok, now they’re right up there. I’m more positive and upbeat about a loss than I was a few weeks ago.
“There was some really good individual performances from some really bright players. Saturday and tonight shows me that we’re going in the right direction.
“We dominated the game possession wise and with chances. What I have to do is keep the team positive in the manner of how we’re trying to play.
“If we win, lose or draw, we have to look like a Bath City team. Tonight we did and more.
“We’ll have to go to Chelmsford and put in another positive performance and try and get three points there if we can.”
Gill confirmed that Frankie Artus will be available for selection after his red card at Dorking Wanderers from the substitutes bench was downgraded to a yellow, but Tom Mehew will sit out through suspension following his two yellows.
Evans, Grant and Callum Watts received rehabilitation work at Twerton on Tuesday with physio Toby Wellington as they near a return to fitness, but Joe Raynes remains out following his serious ankle injury against Weymouth last March.
Remarkably, City and Chelmsford will do battle again next Tuesday in the FA Trophy at Twerton Park after the sides were paired together in Wednesday’s draw.
The winners will be at home to a lower league side - the winners of Swindon Supermarine or Carshalton Athletic.
An announcement will be made in due course over whether crowds will be allowed for both matches.