Gill enthused by display in dominant derby win
Bath City’s complete performance in derby victory over Gloucester had Jerry Gill beaming. Ryan Brunt’s double and a Ross Stearn strike made it two wins in a week as the Romans responded to double defeat in their opening games. Where Saturday’s win at Hampton & Richmond Borough had been a gritty, backs-to-the-wall display, Tuesday night at Twerton Park was every bit the opposite. “The last home game I thought you saw us for 30 minutes, tonight you saw us for 90-plus,” Gill said. “We just said to the lads we seem to do well under the lights. We went down to Torquay and played well, we’ve got to bring that now Saturday. “Don’t underestimate what happened on Saturday. We went and won what I call probably not our best performance, but found a way to win the game. “Tonight it was a dominant performance from the team. I thought our movements, our passing patterns and our attacking players were fantastic. “Alongside that I’ve got to say the back four were terrific, and Ryan [Clarke], he’s pulled off a good save midway through the first half. But really, no disrespect to Gloucester, I thought we thoroughly deserved to win the game.” The thrilled City boss was full of praise for each and every member of his side. He added: “I’m really pleased for Ryan Brunt getting two goals and getting off the mark, I thought he was trememndous tonight. “Good for Stearny to get one as well. We were saying he’s due one, so he’s got himself a good goal. “Special mention for Joe Raynes at right-back, I thought he was terrific again. He’s doing so well in his one-v-ones and is a really combative player. “Two centre-backs backed him up, and Strakes [Anthony Straker], but I could go through the whole lot tonight and the joy was I could put on players having said, we’re going to need everyone between now and the end of the season, “It’s been a massive team effort tonight in a local derby with a really fantastic win.” Teenage Bristol City loanee James Morton, the supplier for Brunt’s opening goal, also turned in another sterling performance. “He picks a pass, doesn’t he,” Gill, pictured, said. “He looks the opposite way and then he can slide a pass the other way with his eyes. “James is a boy that I’ve got a lot of respect for as a person, a really good character, and an undoubted talent as well. “He’s going to go all the way in the game if he continues the way he’s going. He’s learning his trade at this level and really enjoying it at Bath City; he’s bought into the Bath way, that’s for sure. “Players have welcomed him and he’s a really good kid. “We’re thankful that Bristol City, Brian Tinnion and Lee Johnson give him to us, and we feel like we’re helping him develop as well, so it works both ways.” And not just the starting XI, buoyant Gill – who used all three of his allotted subs for the first time this season – is also delighted with his squad as a whole. “I’ve said umpteen times now, I don’t want to disrespect people t h a t were here last year, but when I looked at the bench I couldn’t really make the changes we wanted to,” he said. “Tactically we didn’t have the personnel to go on, but I’m able to do that at the moment, so when you’re able to take off Sean Rigg and you can put on Matt Richards, when you can take off Andy Watkins and put on Millsy [John Mills] up top as well, it’s changes that are not going to affect the team too much. “Frankie Artus is a player who’s been here a long, long time. At the moment he’s found himself out of the team. I love Frankie, he’s a fantastic player, but at the moment he’s playing bit parts and his attitude is tremendous to that, and we’re able to put him on. “These players would get in any other team in this division. That’s the joy with us at the moment.” This weekend newly promoted Dulwich Hamlet visit Twerton Park, with Gill hoping for a good atmosphere across the ground. “They’re a dynamic team, they’ll be full of energy,” he said. “Teams that come out of London have got a bit swagger, if you like, a bit of arrogance about them as well. “They certainly won’t be unfazed, but we want to make this place a fortress, I’ve said about that before. “Just we need a bit more vocal support; it does go flat at times and we want it, at 2-0, I don’t know whether the fans felt it was job done but it’s a dangerous score. “If we can get the whole crowd behind us for 90 minutes it really does help. I’ve said that in my programme notes, so just in those flat moments, we need them. “Saturday will be the same and hopefully we get a good atmosphere in here because they’re great, and hopefully get the right result.”