Gill critical of side after third home league defeat
Jerry Gill criticised his side’s second half display as Bath City suffered a third successive home defeat.
Unbeaten Maidstone United led at the interval through Taylor Curran, and Juan Luque’s double helped them pull clear in second spot while the Romans dropped to 11th.
It was the first time City have failed to score in a match this season with Mo Touray coming the closest in the first half with a curling effort that hit the post.
Christie Pattisson’s shot on the turn deflected inches wide off Eddie Jones before the break in a half which the Stones shaded.
“In the first half we were OK,” Gill acknowledged. “I don’t think there was a lot in the game, we were creating a few opportunities.
“We had a positive talk at halftime but second half we were miles off it. Not a representation of what Bath City Football Club should be about. No desire, work ethic
dropped. The bravery to get on the ball wasn’t there. We didn’t deserve anything from the game and our form here at Twerton is not good enough at the moment.”
Gill was forced into using his fourth different goalkeeper in four matches, the first time City have had to make as many alterations between the sticks since October 1987 as Murphy Mahoney arrived on loan from QPR to replace Archie Matthews, who damaged ankle ligaments training with parent club Birmingham City last Thursday.
Mahoney produced a fine stop
from Curran’s header but the centre-back reacted quickest to convert his first goal for the club.
“It was a good initial save but what’s happened too often is us conceding on the second phase,” said Gill.
“I don’t think Murphy could do anything about the goals. His kicking was very good, he’s a confident boy.
“It is a bit disrupting having to change goalkeeper again but you just have to get on with it. It’s happened three weeks in a row where we’ve lost a player late.
“There was no disruption to the side other than that. The gameplan was all the same. We asked the players to implement it and we didn’t do that.”
Other than Touray hitting the upright soon after Curran’s strike, City failed to frighten Tom Hadler in the Maidstone goal.
The visitors extended their lead on 53 minutes when Sam Corne was freed down the right and his teasing delivery was met by top scorer Luque who steered the ball into the bottom left corner from 10 yards.
Joe Raynes’ goalbound shot was blocked by the well placed George Elokobi before Luque went up the other end to wrap up the three points for Hakan Hayrettin’s men.
Receiving the ball from Jake Gallagher, brother of Crystal Palace midfielder Conor, former Barcelona youth Luque showed footwork that wouldn’t have looked out of place at the Nou Camp as he waltzed past a succession of striped shirts before a low finish for his fifth goal in four matches.
Gill believed his side had plenty of warning about the Maidstone attacker’s ability.
“We spoke in the week about showing him outside but instead the defence allowed him to constantly cut inside,” he stated. “Once he came on to his right foot there was only going to be one outcome. The defending when he came back across the box is really poor.
“We spoke all week about Luque coming off his shape. We didn’t adjust enough as a back four for the second goal either.
“Maidstone are a good team, they’re workmanlike and wellorganised. They are second in the league for a reason and I can have no complaints about the result.”
The Stones could have had a fourth when Pattisson’s speculative effort from the right touchline nearly embarrassed the back-tracking Mahoney, who was relieved to see the ball float a yard over his crossbar.
Gill will be hoping for better on Saturday against Frome Town in the FA Cup, and is hopeful that Callum Wood will be back having missed six matches through suffering from COVID-19.
The City chief admitted Marlee Francois’ loan spell appeared over following his withdrawal for the Shaftesbury match.
“Marlee, his agent and his family made the decision last week to not cup tie himself,” said Gill. “He was not influenced by Bath City or Bristol City.
“As far as I know he wants to stay at Bristol City. There’s nothing we can do about that, we can’t affect players that aren’t here.”