Bath claim valuable point after Manny misses spot-kick

A STOPPAGE-TIME penalty miss by play-off chasers Havant & Waterlooville saw Bath City pick up another important point in their battle near the foot of the Vanarama National League South table in a goalless draw at Twerton Park on Good Friday.

With both sides in desperate need of the points for differing reasons it was an understandably cagey game, and goal chances were in short supply at either end of the pitch until the late drama. An early Billy Clifford shot had to be turned away for a corner by Ryan Clarke but this was a rare sight of either goalkeeper being tested.

Alex Fletcher saw a header clear the bar and Tom Smith failed to trouble Ross Warner later in the half.

The second half continued in a similar pattern, although the Hawks were beginning to enjoy the better of the possession.

Several times crosses flashed dangerously across City’s six-yard box but the home side’s defence stood up well to the visitors’ efforts. The Romans were reduced to the occasional foray forward but just when the game looked to be drifting to a conclusion they were suddenly again facing late heartbreak.

With the clock ticking past the 90-minute mark, a rare incisive move by Havant saw Jake Andrews get a clear sight of goal only to be felled by Dan Ball’s desperate lunge.

The referee had no other option to point to the spot but Manny Duku blasted the spot-kick against the bar to send a huge roar of relief around Twerton Park. A couple of further Havant attacks were repelled by City before the final whistle signalled the end of another eventful afternoon.