Satisfactory haul for Gill as side draw ‘bizarre’ trip
Bath City manager Jerry Gill was pleased overall with his team’s reaction to going behind against Truro on Tuesday evening, and was satisfied with the 1-1 result. Former Roman hero Tyler Harvey gave the hosts a fourth-minute lead at a sparse Plainmoor, Anthony Straker earning a point from the spot after the break On his evaluation of events, Gill listed the factors which made City’s stalemate a rather strange affair nonetheless. “That was a mad game of football,” he said. “Far too open for both teams, some bizarre decisions from officials and players, bookings on our players when free-kicks had been given to us, balls that are flat constantly all evening, wasting time, a bizarre place to come when it’s really quiet and there’s nothing going on. “You can’t get a cup of tea before the game and it’s just a funny feeling really.” However, Gill claimed his side were ready for a bizarre game. He added: “We spoke about it and we said it was going to be difficult down here, they are a team that has changed and they are fighting for their lives and got a really good result against Dartford on Saturday. “We started the game brightly I thought in the first couple of minutes, and the goal has affected us. “We didn’t clear it, Jack [Batten] was unable to clear it, he’s feeling his calf a little bit and they finished it. “They [Truro] worked ever so hard, we never got our rhythm going in the first half like we did on Saturday and no games are going to be the same, but we still felt we were going to come on to our game.” Gill reflected upon what he said to his players at half-time and was impressed overall by their efforts in the second-half. City won a penalty within a couple of minutes of the restart when Michee Efete was brought down in the box. Captain Straker calmly converted his penalty to equalise for the Romans. He said: “I sorted a few things out at half-time and when our players started to run forward and passes were going forward, we caused them a lot of problems, and we won a deserved penalty which Strakes puts away really well, and then the game becomes a bizarre game.
You can’t get a cup of tea before the game and it’s just a funny feeling...
“I said that I felt we didn’t have the same purpose in and out of possession as we did on Saturday [in the 3-1 victory at Woking] but like I said these things are going to happen, people have to stay patient with us.” Regarding the contrast to the display his team put in on Saturday in the fabulous victory at Woking, Gill called for the expectations of his team to remain realistic going from game-to-game. “All of us have to learn from it and that some games are not quite going to be perfect,” he said. “All of us; staff, players and supporters too. “But I said to the players that they could have given us a little bit more in the way of positive play, and that means maybe closing down and running and passing forward and have calmness in possession. “I thought that we got passes one and two in and then we gave away the third one. “However, in the second half I thought that we controlled the game and we were maybe deserved of nicking a winner. “Of course we will take it [the draw] because that’s four points from two tough away games. We have been on the road a long time now and sat here I am quite happy if I’m being honest.” City had to contend with the withdrawal of in-form centre-back Jack Batten midway through the first-half as he was substituted off with a calf injury, replaced by Kevin Amankwaah. Gill explained: “We had to deal with Jack going off tonight so that disrupted us a little bit, but special mention for Kevin Amankwhaah, he was absolutely seamless in there and I thought he was terrific. “He hasn’t played any football lately so that is not easy, I thought he showed his experience, was terrific when he went on and he looks like he has kept himself really fit so credit to him in training. “It [Batten’s withdrawal] did not really change us at all and in the second-half it was more like the Bath City that we know.” Gill added:“he [Batten] felt it in the warm-up actually. He said his calf was a little bit stiff and tight so it was precautionary to bring him off rather than him pulling it. “We are hoping we can get his calf loosened up before the weekend but that’s fine, we have players like Kevin [Amankwaah] who can come on from the bench. “It looks like Sean Rigg is hopefully going to be fit for the weekend as well. Andy Watkins had a successful operation yesterday [hernia], that’s gone well for him, so we are fine. “I think that now, as I reflect on it [the draw] I am really happy that we got a point here because it backs up the three points we got on Saturday against a team that I think a lot of teams will find it really difficult, for a number of reasons, to come here and play.” City have organised a Student Day this Saturday when they host Hemel Hempstead Town. They are offering £2 entry to students and the price of £2 for pints between 12-2pm ahead of a 3pm kick-off. On the game, Gill said he would scrutinise their 1-1 draw at home to Slough Town and have his players sufficiently briefed on their threat. “There is a lot of change there,” he said. “A new manager whoever that may be as someone is in there as caretaker at the moment and I will have the detail on them. “Obviously I will speak to everyone who watched the game and watch back as well.” “I am thoroughly looking forward to getting back home and onto three points.” Before and after this weekend’s game, the latest proposals for Twerton Park’s redevelopment will be on display in Charlie’s Bar, from 12pm. The club are also seeking feedback , which must be submitted by November 10.