Romans made to look like April fools

Bath City were made to look April Fools by Alan Devonshire’s Magpies four years ago today as United laid their Twerton Park bogey to rest in style to maintain their position at the top of the National League, writes Neil Maskell.

Maidenhead had lost on their last nine visits to Twerton Park, but Devonshire’s men were showing no respect for history as they racked up their 26th victory of the season, and in doing so inflicted the home side’s worst home defeat since 1994. Roared on by a large and increasingly delirious travelling support, Maidenhead were ahead inside 10 minutes. Sean Marks was hauled down in the box by Bath’s Jack Batten and Dave Tarpey scored from the spot (below). The Magpies top scorer also struck the woodwork with a header before he added the second at the end of a quite glorious team move – James Comley’s pinpoint through-ball found Sam Barratt who squared for Tarpey to tap home his fortieth of the season. And within moments a third goal followed when Tarpey flicked on for Marks to slot home, in a reversal of the usual formula between the prolific Maidenhead front two.

There was little let up for the beleaguered hosts in the second period. Within five minutes of the restart Tarpey had his fourth hat-trick of the campaign, picking himself up after being fouled to score his second penalty kick of the day. The home team at least had the satisfaction of getting onto the scoresheet through Naby Diallo but the tin hat was put on a great afternoon’s work when substitute Jordan Cox demonstrated the strength of the squad by volleying home from Barratt’s lobbed pass to leave assistant manager Sam Lock reflecting, “they looked terrified of us.”