Manager left fuming over ‘pathetic’ defensive show
Dorking Wanderers: Nelson; Fuller, Harris (El-abd 66), BJ Taylor; Briggs (Gallagher 81), Moore, J Taylor, Mcmanus, Mcshane; Kealy (Wheeler 46), Rutherford. subs not used: Muitt, Kennedy. bath City: Mahoney; Batten, Gerring, Raynes; Jones, Owers, Holness, Frear; Smith (Touray 60); Cooke, Fletcher. subs not used: Clarke, James, Richards, Cannings. referee: Steven Hughes star man: Cody Cooke
Attendance: 747 “Pathetic” was the adjective Jerry Gill used to describe his side’s defending in Saturday’s collapse at Dorking Wanderers.
The Romans led through Cody Cooke’s 9th minute penalty but the Surrey side were on terms 11 minutes later through Alfie Rutherford.
The impressive Matt Briggs headed Wanderers in front before a quickfire James Mcshane double late on helped seal a deserved three points for the hosts, their first win at Meadowbank against City.
“I’m disgusted with that defensive display, especially from 75 minutes onwards,” Gill fumed. “It was unrecognisable and unacceptable, I won’t tolerate it.
“They need a reality check. We’ve got to compete in this league – at the moment we’re not.
“I’ve looked some of them in the eye and told some home truths. They shook their heads and agreed – I wouldn’t mind one standing up and saying ‘you’re wrong’ – showing a bit of spirit and fight which they should have shown in the last 15-20 minutes.
“People have paid a lot of the
money to travel and watch this, my dad’s one of them. Then they pay to get into the stadium and the players serve up that.”
The hosts were agonisingly close to opening the scoring on four minutes when Niall Mcmanus’ placed drive flicked off the heel of Jack Batten and clipped the post before being hacked away.
City reacted by earning a penalty with their first meaningful attack. Elliott Frear’s ball from the left was met by Alex Fletcher who went down under minimal pressure from Ed Harris, but referee Steven Hughes pointed to the spot.
Cooke wasn’t fazed by the delay and neatly placed his penalty to the left of debutant 40-year-old Stuart Nelson. A ninth goal of the season
for the number nine in the ninth minute.
Dorking weren’t deterred and scored twice before the break. The leveller on 20 minutes saw Briggs run from one end of the 3G to the other, bypassing Omar Holness and Joe Raynes, before his low centre was guided home by Rutherford.
“They’ll be embarrassed when they watch back that first goal,” said Gill. “Then the second is a free cross from our right back area, Briggs is unopposed, didn’t even have to rise to head in. Easy.”
City swapped for a back four before half-time whereas Dorking made a change at the break, replacing Callum Kealy for Nicky Wheeler and pushing Mcshane into a central attacking role. It later paid off handsomely.
“Dorking are a good side, really free-flowing,” Gill acknowledged. “We had a good moment after I changed our shape to 4-3-3. We looked more solid. We weren’t creating loads but there were some opportunities.
“I said you might have to wait until the 96th minute to dig out a draw, taking a point from Dorking isn’t a bad thing.
“But the players have shot themselves in the foot.”
The third goal from Mcshane which killed the game off left Gill apoplectic.
“If you refuse to defend like we did that third goal, you’ve got no chance in the game. No chance,” he said. “It’s a basic ball down the side. We’re facing the wrong way appealing for offside. Rutherford cuts inside of Jack (Batten), we’re really passive, not engaging, it’s a free goal. It’s pathetic, nonsense defending, not a team that reflects what we want to be.
“You suddenly become a bad side if you’re conceding threes and fours. It is unacceptable, I’ve never had that in my tenure.”
Scotsman Mcshane completed his brace three minutes later, tapping in having reacted quickest to Mahoney’s save from Rutherford – the 18th goal conceded in Bath’s eighth league match this season, their most at this stage for twentyone years.
“The fourth goal was too easy for them too,” said Gill. “We lost a battle in midfield, there’s too much of a gap on the right of our defence. It’s not even like a training exercise, it’s like an unopposed session.
“I know Callum Wood’s a very good player and we miss the balance when he’s not there, but we have a good enough team to do better in protecting the game.”
Saturday’s FA Cup opponnets Banbury extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions this season after Saturday’s win over 10-man Nuneaton Borough in Southern Premier Central.
“I can’t even think about Banbury at the moment,” said Gill after Saturday’s game. “We’ll do everything we can, prepare them properly.
“If I’m Banbury I’m thinking ‘there are goals here’ – and that’s the harsh reality of it. If I was an opposition team I’d say: ‘let’s go and get at them.’
“If we defend like that against anyone we’re going to come unstuck.”