Bath back on track with wins
Two clean sheets away from home pushes side up to third
Jerry Gill lauded Bath City’s second successive win, describing their 2-0 victory at Maidstone as a fantastic performance.
Goals in each half from Frankie Artus and Sam Pearson moved City 13 points clear inside the play-off places as they deservedly disposed one of the chasing pack.
The City chief was impressed with his side’s ability to build on Saturday’s win.
Gill said: “This is a tough place to come, especially having been to Concord on Saturday and we haven’t had a chance to speak to the players in between.
“To keep a clean sheet in horrible conditions, in front of a hostile crowd with performance levels back up there, is credit to them.
“You want to quieten the crowd, which we did. They got frustrated.
“It’s a really good stadium here as well. There’s a feel-good factor, you want to come and play football here.
“In the second half we came under a bit of pressure but it’s pressure that’s not really hurting us.
“They’ve hit the post and Clarkey’s had one save to make, that’s about it. All the rest was in front of us.
“In recent weeks we’ve had to think about what we’re good at and remind the players of what we’re good at.
“I think we’ve seen it in abundance tonight, Credit to the players for keeping themselves right between Saturday and today.”
Gill was impressed with Maidstone-born debutant Dan Martin, whose international clearance was only confirmed on the journey to Kent.
He marked his maiden appearance with an assist for Pearson’s clinching goal in stoppage time.
Gill said: “I thought Dan Martin was absolutely terrific tonight. The way he drives with the ball up the field.
“We always looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
“The front three again have worked tirelessly to stop the supply coming in, with Frankie and Noah doing a great job of screening the back five.
“Sam did so well with the goal. He delayed and delayed before a tidy little finish.”
Defensively, after being prised apart by Wealdstone and St Albans in the past month, Ryan Clarke recorded a third clean sheet in a row away from home.
“Ryan Clarke looks dominant; he looks like he’s going to take every cross.” Said Gill.
“The way they threw their bodies on the line as well.
“We’ve blocked it out ever so well, got behind the ball.
“Frankie Artus has a cut eye, Dan Ball and Joe Raynes have a few knocks. That tells me this team is really committed.
“That’s what football is about, you’re going to get hurt.
“People may have questioned us after a little bit of a wobble but we just talk about our process.
“We revisited a lot of good practise in the last week and the players have carried it out.”
Gill paid tribute to the travelling fans at the Gallagher Stadium, and hopes to reward them on Saturday as Dulwich Hamlet travel to Twerton Park.
City have a 100 per cent record of three wins from three against Gavin Rose’s men, including a 3-1 success at Champion Hill in November.
“Dulwich are a good side,” said Gill. “I remember them coming to us last year and I thought they were one of the best sides we played early that season. They’ve always got an athletic threat.
“I’ve reminded the players that we can’t have a St Albans.
“Our players are part-time footballers giving everything they can every week.
“We’ll work hard on planning that Dulwich game and try and keep our foot on the gas.”
On Saturday, Ross Stearn made his first start since the final match of 2019 and marked his return with a goal before coming off within ten minutes of the restart.
Gill said: ““Ross deserves his goal. He’s been chomping at the bit, working ever so hard in training. He deserved his opportunity.
“We did a lot of work with him in the week and told him he’d be playing.
“We’re really disappointed he had to come off though, looks like he jolted his knee.
“Our front three worked tirelessly. It wasn’t about playing through central midfield areas today. Noah Chilvers and Frankie Artus acted like a screen in front of the defence.”