City clamber to fifth with Somerset derby triumph
Jerry Gill was unsurprisingly delighted as his side returned to winning ways against Weston-super-mare. Last term the Romans, who had been beaten at Chelmsford City on Saturday, were victims of the double against their Somerset rivals. But this time around the bragging rights belong to City, with goals from Sean Rigg – who had a penalty saved before opening the scoring – and Joe Raynes earning them their fourth win in five games. That run has fired them up to fifth in the National League South standings. “It was a really, really good performance,” Gill said. “I thought it was a professional performance. “2-0 flatters them I think; it should’ve been more. We’ve missed a penalty, Brunty’s [Ryan Brunt] had a chance as well, [John] Mills and Strakes [Anthony Straker] have had chances. “We looked like a really good topfive team, and it’s up to us now to go on another run.” Weston claimed a first ever league double against the Romans last term, but from the outset City were on the front foot and the preparation proved vital to gain revenge this time. Gill added: “They beat us twice and played some really good football [last season]. But we know we’ve got a lot of quality in that dressing room. “The messages before the game were about out of possession. “We worked on our game plan. We knew we were going to get in their faces and stop them building a rhythm, and the players did it. They did it for 90 minutes plus. “We tried to stop it at source as much as we can. “We know Luke Purnell [goalkeeper] is really good, he plays as a sweeper almost for them. We tried to stop him pinging balls left, right and centre, and we did that well.” Midfielder-turned-right-back Raynes was voted as the sponsors’ man-of-the-match and was given extra praise by the City boss, who was keen to stress the rest of the team hadn’t let him down. “He’s been fantastic,” Gill beamed. “He’s taken it on really well, a lad who’s come from the lower leagues, playing in a new position, but that’s his position now. “He’s a right-back and doing ever so well there. “He’s still learning the game. We’re still talking to him about distances, making sure you’re facing down the pitch when you’re heading it and not getting turned. “But his one-v-ones are so good, and he’s a great threat going forward.” Gill added: “There were a lot of really good performances. “Andy Watkins’ energy level was fantastic, Adam Mann was a revelation again. “They all contributed to the game. I don’t want to pick one off because all of them contributed.” The missed penalty, a staggering 19th failure in just over three years with Rigg the unlucky 13th man to miss one in that time, gave a moment of concern for the Romans chief. “In the first half we were a little bit rushed, didn’t quite get that end product right,” Gill said. “When we missed the penalty I thought ‘maybe it’s not our day.’ “But really, I thought we would probably get more chances. “I felt once we got on it we showed a real calmness. We were deserved winners in the end.” The gate of 1,022 was the highest between the clubs for 11 years, leaving City with an average attendance of 874 so far. It was over double the crowd from their last August Bank Holiday Monday match, when 481 witnessed a 2-1 defeat at home to Havant & Waterlooville in 2014. “That’s what we’re after,” Gill said. “We think we’re putting a product out there that fans enjoy watching. “It’s consistency now; momentum. It was a really good performance at Chelmsford on Saturday, don’t get away from that, we were terrific up there. “With ten men, we were the better team as well in the second half. “That was the message before, in the dressing room. “We’re on a good run of form and the performance levels are right up there.” A return trip to Essex awaits on Saturday against an East Thurrock side who’ve lost six of their first seven matches, but now have Sam Higgins back after the prolific frontman, who has over 150 goals for the Rocks, missed early fixtures to get married in Greece. “It’s important now to get people rested up. We’ll train again on Thursday,” Gill said. “It’ll be a really tough game at East Thurrock on a small pitch. “But we’re in that play-off spot – let’s stay in there. I want to stay in there and keep us going on the front foot.” The Bath boss confirmed that Ross Stearn’s hamstring injury will be assessed before Saturday’s trip to East Thurrock, and that Robbie Cundy’s red card at Chelmsford has been appealed, with the outcome expected by the end of the week.