IT’S THREE IN A ROW FOR HOT CLARETS
ROD STRINGER was right not to read too much into prematch speculation as his pace-setting Chelmsford side were made to battle for their third straight win.
The Romans had endured a torrid start to the season by conceding eight goals in their opening two games, including five from a derby humiliation by Chippenham Town in midweek.
Yet they held a half-time lead, with Chelmsford needing a second-half rescue job to maintain their 100 per cent record.
“We knew it would be tough,” Stringer said. “Everybody’s said they’ve conceded eight and this and that, but to be fair it was quite an open game.
“We had to work hard. To go 1-0 down after five minutes obviously wasn’t in the script, but I thought we did well to get in at halftime having had chances to equalise, but it never happened.
“We had a tough job of it in the second half. If anybody deserved to win, I thought it was us, but they may feel a little disappointed. My supporters said we haven’t won here in a long time, so it’s fantastic to get back on the coach with three points.”
Bath went ahead on five minutes when Nick McCootie’s well-placed chest-down teed up Ryan Case to score.
Michael Spillane had to desperately clear from the line when Marvin Morgan lofted over Sam Beasant, but the first half was largely about the Romans’ resilience.
Chelmsford huffed and puffed without finding the net, other than a Kudus Oyenuga overhead effort deemed offside, unfairly in Stringer’s view.
They continued to assault the Bath box after the break and finally levelled with Michael West laying the chance on a plate for Oyenuga.
There was a stirring ten minutes from Bath, who were left pointless again courtesy of Lee Barnard’s penalty, coolly dispatched after Morgan had pulled back Spillane.
Following their spluttering opening to the campaign, Romans boss Gary Owers was pleased with the dogged defensive display his side put on.
“I can’t criticise the lads with their effort,” he said. “It’s been a bad week.
“I asked them to put in a different type of performance, to show a little bit of grit, and I thought they showed it, especially in the first half under a lot of pressure.” STAR MAN: Kudus Oyenuga (C’ford). ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★