Bath City start pre-season
Friendlies against Keynsham and Reading U23s
Bath City boss Jerry Gill was pleased with the early strides his side have made in the opening days of pre-season, following their victory over Reading under-23s.
The game formed the middle leg of a three-day training camp for the Romans, among their number a batch of new players and trialists.
It was one of those trial players, former Norwich City man Michee Efete, who scored the winner, finding the back of the net with an improvised shot from his knee.
They were the better side for much of the game and grew into the contest following a lively opening from Reading, only to be thwarted by a familiar face in last season’s loan keeper Luke Southwood, and his second-half replacement.
“It’s part of our three-day training camp at the University of Bath, so it’s very much built around conditioning, and no real focus or emphasis on any result,” Gill said.
“We played two XIS, as you could see, from the squad there and I thought both halves were fantastic.
“I thought the work ethic and attitude, first and foremost, was really good. Some of the detail they’ve taken on with and without the ball over the course of three or four sessions has been great.
“The new boys have blended in, that’s what the weekend has been about; blending the new players in with the old and making sure we’re right as a group.”
The game was played under scorching sun at Twerton Park, each half seeing a drinks break around 25 minutes.
A handful of City players featured for the full 90 minutes and left Gill impressed with their fitness levels so early in the pre-season process.
The Romans chief added: “In general for the whole group, I said day one when we trained they have come back in conditioned. They’ve gone away and done close-season programs, which shows, and they’ve worked hard in the sessions we’ve done to date.
“It’s really pleasing. We won’t get carried away. We thank Reading for coming down with their 23s and playing two different teams, which is a real challenge and a test.
“The first 15-20 minutes they moved the ball really well and it was a good exercise for our boys to keep their shape without the ball.
“Then we grew into the game, created several chances and Mr Southwood’s pulled off two or three really good saves against us.
“We’ve gone on, won the game and I thought we deserved to. We were really good for a first pre-season game, I thought it was excellent.”
Following the match, the two squads gathered to watch England’s World Cup win over Sweden at the ground, before the City squad and staff headed to Yum Yum Thai for an evening meal.
Sunday morning they were due to visit Thermae Bath Spa, all part of building and bonding the group.
“We’ll continue our three-day camp now,” Gill said. “We go back and have dinner together tonight have a bit of a bonding night - and then Sunday morning we’ll be over at the Bath Thermae Spa on a recovery session as well.
“All in all a really, really good three days, and we have to give the University a special mention. They’ve really looked after us up there, the staff have been incredible, the food’s been great, the accommodation and the way they’ve helped us out up there in specific departments has been really good.
“Off the back of that, the game was great. Obviously it’s nice to get a win in your first pre-season friendly and keep a clean sheet.”
Goalscorer Efete is a familiar face to Gill, who worked with the defender during his stint at Norwich City.
As well as finding the net, Efete played a half at both right- and leftback over the course of 90 minutes.
“Michee Efete I’ve known for four or five years,” Gill said. “I worked with him, he was on my scholars when I was at Norwich City, so I’ve known him for a long time.
“I’ve got a soft spot for him; he’s a good lad. He’s based in London, so I’ve had a conversation with him over the summer and he’s come in on trial.
“I thought he was brilliant, he did really well; all the trialists played a part today as well. It’s nice for him to get a goal, he doesn’t score many.
“But as a group, as a whole, trialists and the players under contract, I thought it was a really good, worthwhile exercise against a good young Reading U23s.”
Among the other trialists to feature were one-time Crystal Palace prospect Tariq Ossai, Frome Town man Joe Raynes, and Olly Mehew, released this summer by Forest Green Rovers.
There was also some action for youth-team talent James Ollis in the second half.
Gill added: “Tariq has been at Crystal Palace and just been released, he was a 16s and 18s captain. We had a little look at him, he’s been with us over the camp and so has Michee.
“Obviously we’ve got Olly Mehew in as well, who is David Mehew’s son, so he’s in with us. I thought he did very well.
“Joe Raynes is in, who we all know about from Frome, I thought he was excellent today and to play 90 minutes. Technically he’s a very good football player, looks like he’s come through an academy. I know he was at Southampton at a younger age but went out of it.
“And young James Ollis from the youth team did well when he came on. He hasn’t trained with us yet, he came late Friday night, so he’s playing catch-up a little bit.
“There are some really good young lads out there showing or trying to impress to earn themselves a contract.”