FA Cup derby going to see plenty of fans in the stadium
Jerry Gill and Danny Greaves have fond memories of the FA Cup.
As a player, Gill was part of the last Bath City side to reach the 3rd Round in 1994, where they lost to Stoke City in a replay.
Fourteen months previous he netted in a thrilling 3-2 win over Cardiff in the 1st Round.
Greaves played in goal for Clevedon Town when they faced Chester City in the 1st Round in 2006, the furthest the Seasiders have progressed in the competition.
He was powerless in a 4-1 defeat against the League Two side, whose midfield contained Roberto Martinez, now manager of the best international team in the world, Belgium.
Greaves is now in charge of Frome Town in Southern League Division One South, two levels below Bath City.
They last played the Romans in the FA Cup in 1984, also in the 3rd Qualifying Round.
In a major cup upset, Former Somerset cricketer Colin Dredge figured for the Robins in a 3-1 win against a City side then three divisions higher.
It remains the last time Frome have made the 4th Qualifying Round, where they lost to Bognor Regis Town.
Bath boss Jerry Gill has won five from five FA Cup ties against lower league opponents since his appointment four years ago and will be keen to add another at Twerton Park in an eagerly anticipated 3rd Qualifying Round clash. He and Greaves have discussed this weekend’s mouthwatering tie:
■ What was your initial reaction when the draw was made?
Danny Greaves: I thought it could have been better. It’s one of the toughest draws we could have got based on the teams left in the competition. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed, it’s a local derby against a massive club like Bath. We’re looking forward to it with no pressure on us like the Oxford City game. There will be a big crowd, we’ll take a few as well being a local derby.
Jerry Gill: It won’t only be well attended by Bath City and Frome supporters, I think a lot of neutrals will come. It’ll be a great occasion for the Football Club. For us it’ll be about doing the business – it’ll be a tough game, we’ll treat Frome like any league opponent, but we have to fancy ourselves at home.
■ Could it have been different if the tie was being played at Frome rather than Bath?
DG: 100 per cent. We know it’ll be tough going to Twerton Park, it’s tough playing them at the best of times. Our home record has been very good over the last three seasons, I think we’ve only lost one in a good number of games played.
JG: We feel as if our bigger pitch will suit us better and it’s in immaculate condition now. I know Frome are comfortable at home, proven in the last round – beating Oxford is no mean feat.
■ Jon Davies, George Rigg and James Ollis were formerly with Bath. Is there a bit more spice to the game because of links between players?
JG: I’m sure the ex-city players will be well up for the game but my focus will be on what we can do on the day ourselves. It doesn’t bother me that there are ex-players playing.
DG: Maybe. There are a few boys who know each other off the pitch and Bath have Joe Raynes who is ex-frome. I played with Ryan Clarke at Bristol Rovers too.
■ Bath beat Frome 4-1 in pre-season, is that an irrelevance heading into this game?
DG: We took so much from that game and thought we played quite well but the difference was how clinical teams are at Bath’s level. We learned from that and we have tightened up defensively. We are more clinical ourselves and will need to be on Saturday. But overall I think both teams are very different to then.
JG: Frome are a totally different outfit now like we are, there’s nothing really from that game I can take into Saturday. It doesn’t matter if our opponents in the FA Cup are in the Premier League or Wessex League – I will do my due diligence. I know what Frome are about and what system they’ll probably play.
■ What does a cup run mean to you?
JG: The first two qualifying rounds are always for the club, the next bit is for our players. I’ve had some great times here as a player in this competition I want to help create more memories for these players to keep and tell their kids about. You need the right mindset in these early rounds to get the glory.
DG: We’ve been immersing ourselves in some of the club’s FA Cup runs recently, our historian has been digging up a few facts. It will be an unbelievable achievement if we get a positive result and we will be buzzing.
Bath City Academy were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup by Mangotsfield United on Monday night.
Billy Clark’s men finished runners-up in last season’s South West Counties Youth League to the Bristol-based side, managed by former Leeds United boss Dave Hockaday, and were second-best at Twerton Park in an entertaining tie.
Alfie Kelsey’s penalty save from Charlie Mccrae in the second half gave the young Romans hope, but the flying start from the visitors helped their progression.
Kelsey’s elder brother Jack pulled one back for Bath from the spot before half-time but it wasn’t enough despite a spirited display.
Mangoes enjoyed a dream start when Otis Lewis’ corner was headed back by Joah Ball to Miguel Alves, who glanced home.
Mccrae soon made it 2-0, drilling home when another Lewis corner wasn’t dealt with.
City were gifted a lifeline when Jeffrey Barimah’s wayward pass saw Tom Ovigne feed it through to Ethan Cannings, who was wiped out by Ben Courtier for a penalty, which Jack Kelsey slammed past Ben Creighton.
Mangotsfield awarded a spotkick after the break when substitute Jadyn Crosbie was tripped by Arlo Stone, but Mccrae’s firm penalty was parried by Alfie Kelsey.
Creighton produced a fine fingertip save from Cannings before Marcel Lewis sealed the away side’s progression to the 3rd Qualifying Round, a low finish from 18 yards after Mccrae was initially denied by Kelsey.