WHITE-HOT STONES PUT ROMANS IN THE SHADE

JOE WHITE’S penalty proved the difference in a mid-table battle.

City had the first opening on seven minutes when Jonathon North threw himself in the way of Shawn McCoulsky’s closerange effort.

Bath’s Max O’Leary wasn’t tested until the half-hour mark, when debutant Dan Fitchett turned Jack Batten before being thwarted by the alert stopper.

He was powerless to prevent the opener on 34 minutes. Daniel Green’s corner was cleared to him and he was afforded space to run into the penalty area before superbly arrowing the ball into the top corner.

Nick McCootie thrashed a shot over from Andy Watkins’ backheel when he should have tested North, while at the other end White’s low drive whistled past the post.

The hosts levelled just before the break. Billy Murphy’s free-kick saw Chas Hemmings prod the ball in.

Substitute Matt Whichelow warmed the gloves of O’Leary with a fierce strike from 16 yards before the visitors regained their lead.

After Ryan Sellers’ driving run, White went down in the box under slight contact from Sekani Simpson. The Dagenham & Redbridge loanee dusted himself down before sending O’Leary the wrong way from the spot.