Hoping to defy the odds in a tough Trophy tie
This weekend sees Bath City bid to upset the form book against National League South leaders Dartford.
The clubs have been paired in the Buildbase FA Trophy 2nd Round, the stage which Step 2 clubs enter the competition. Dartford are the highest ranked side Bath City could have been drawn against.
The Romans have lost nine of their last ten against Steve King’s men, including a September 3-1 defeat at Twerton Park despite a promising performance from the hosts.
In the FA Trophy, Dartford were runners-up to Morecambe in 1974 and have lost in the semi-finals on four occasions since, the most recent in 2013 over two legs to Grimsby Town.
However they’ve struggled to make inroads since coming so close to Wembley eight years ago, although they haven’t been helped by a series of tough draws. Since relegation back to National League South in 2015, Saturday will be the sixth time from seven years that their opening FA Trophy tie has been against a divisional opponent.
Last year they recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Slough Town and won 6-5 on penalties, but suffered a shock loss to Haringey Borough in round three.
Bath City edged past Chelmsford City 3-2 in round two last season and made light work of Swindon Supermarine four days later, but also fell to lower league opponents at home as Peterborough Sports deservedly won at Twerton Park.
The Romans have entered the FA Trophy every year since its inception in the 1969/70 season and their furthest journey was to the semi-finals in 2015 when they agonisingly lost on penalties at North Ferriby United having drawn 3-3 over two legs.
Saturday is Bath City’s 150th FA Trophy tie and first with Dartford in the competition since 1980 when they needed a replay to progress, making light work at the second attempt in a round one tie, winning 6-1.
Supporters are reminded that Saturday’s match will be all pay unless they have pre-purchased their ticket for a 20% discount. The deadline for that initiative has now passed.