BATH ARE SUNK BY A DEADLY TARPEDO
MAIDEN HEAD ended their Twerton Park hoodoo as hot-shot striker Dave Tarpey fired yet another hat-trick.
The Magpies had lost all eight previous meetings against the Romans at Twerton, but a dominating performance against lacklustre opposition helped them remain on course for the title.
The league leaders got off to the perfect start on ten minutes. After City failed to clear a free-kick, Jack Batten hauled down Sean Marks as he lined up a shot, with referee Savvas Yianni having little option but to award a penalty. Dave Tarpey sent Max O’Leary the wrong way to give Alan Devonshire’s men the lead.
They nearly doubled it seven minutes later. Dean Inman’s header across goal was nodded against the bar by Tarpey, with Jack Parkinson acrobatically firing the rebound over from close range.
A second arrived on 39 minutes. A superb defencesplitting pass from James Comley found Barratt, who unselfishly squared it to Tarpey for the simplest of tap-ins, his 40th league goal of the season.
Marks made it three within two minutes. The burly forward brushed aside Batten and reacted quickest to poke home.
Marvin Morgan and Shawn McCoulsky both headed Billy Murphy corners against bar for the hosts, as they searched for a way back.
But six minutes after the break substitute Sekani Simpson brought down Tarpey in the box, and the prolific striker completed his fourth hat-trick of the season from the spot.
The Romans pulled one back on 67 minutes with a rare foray forward.
Naby Diallo’s superb jinking run saw him surprise Carl Pentney with a drive at his near post, which trickled into the net.
Mulley and Barratt were both denied a fifth, instead it was Jordan Cox who rounded off the scoring with three minutes left. The superb Barratt lofted a ball over the defence which was smartly volleyed in by his fellow substitute.
He should have made it six, slicing in front of goal after great approach play by Tarpey, but Magpies boss Alan Devonshire was more than satisfied.
“We played well, dug in when we needed to,” he said. “We had a bit of luck when they hit the upright twice from corners, but it’s job done. I can’t ask for much more than a 5-1 win away from home.”