CLARKE CITY’S NUMBER ONE IN EVERY SENSE
Bath City number one Ryan Clarke is the best gloveman National League South has to offer – and that’s coming from someone who knows what it takes. Over the summer, former Romans shot-stopper Jason Matthews returned to the club in a player-coach role, and has been hard at work with both Clarke and former Bristol Rovers youngster Kieran Hodges. Only two teams can boast of a better defensive record in the division than City, who have conceded just ten goals, alongside three of their rivals. And among the keys to that has been the experienced Clarke, in Matthews’ view. “Both have been superb since I’ve been back at the club,” the 43-year-old said. “I feel that Ryan is the best keeper in the league by a very long way. “No-one’s come near him and I think he’s proved that in his first ten games at the club.” Also impressing Matthews is Jerry Gill, the manager that brought him in from a coaching role at local rivals Chippenham Town. The goalkeeping coach added: ”I’ve really enjoyed coming back to the club and I feel Jerry’s got some really good, fresh ideas; a very modern manager. “He dragged me in from Chippenham and speaking to him, his enthusiasm made me want to come back to the club.” As well as bringing goalkeeping expertise to the table, Matthews also has three years’ experience as a manager with Southern League top-flight side Weymouth. Alongside Jim Rollo, that gives Gill an extra sounding board to bounce ideas off on the bench, though at the end of the day it is the boss that takes the big decisions. “It’s obviously more the manager,” said Matthews, speaking after the 2-0 defeat to Welling United. “The gaffer, what he says goes.” “It’s his team, and I feel personally he’s done very well so far this season. “It was a bad day at the office today, but one game over the course of a season, we’ll come back strong next week, I’m sure of it. “I felt that Welling did a very good job on us today. “It was just a little disappointing having had the family day that we just weren’t our normal selves.” The Romans’ chance to bounce back comes around this Saturday, when Isthmian Premier outfit Lewes come to Twerton Park hoping to spring an FA Cup third qualifying round upset. “No game’s easy,” Matthews warned. “You’re getting one round closer to the first round proper. “Lewes have done well to beat Kings Langley, you take everything one game at a time, as you say. “And like you said. We have a beautiful pitch and everyone’s going to raise their game.”