Injuries already a worry for Gill as pre-season takes a toll
Jerry Gill admitted his side’s mounting injury list is causing him to consider cancelling Saturday’s friendly with Gloucester.
As of Wednesday morning before the Bath Chronicle went to press, the match was still set to go ahead (KO 3pm) but Omar Holness’ muscle injury on top of Ryan Clarke, Joe Raynes, Ben Gerring, Kitan Jaiyeoba and Jordan Williams already on the sidelines leaves the manager desperately short of numbers.
Centre-back Jack Batten made his return from an ankle injury as a replacement for Holness, a midfielder by trade, who was forced into a defensive role because of several absences.
“If I can’t get enough bodies out there we won’t play it,” said Gill, who could only name four substitutes on Friday. “I can’t afford to get any more injuries.
“A lot of focus is going into Joe Raynes and Jack Batten now. We had to basically shove Jack out there, he didn’t want to risk an injury. They both did a double session at the university Saturday.
“We’ll have to look at Omar. I didn’t want to put him on that long after his isolation but I had to.
“We’ll have to try and get him back for Billericay let alone the next three games.”
Gill was satisfied with his team’s display at a balmy Twerton Park.
“I thought the work ethic and effort from the players was fantastic,” he said. “You look at our backline and we only had one of our contracted defender playing in Dan Ball.
“We had a trialist at left wingback, it was all very patched up.
“The positives are the front three look really good. Cody, Alex and Tom Smith are building a really good relationship and looked a threat against a league side.
“The negatives are we’ve conceded another four goals. Two or three are just a turn in the box and a shot which is really disappointing.
“I need to make some decisions on some of the trialists. It’s not their fault, I bring them in but the level is too much for them.”
Cody Cooke has made a positive impression since arriving from Weymouth, top-scoring so far in pre-season, while Tom Smith made it three goals in two games in the week.
“I thought he was the outstanding player tonight,” said Gill of Smith. “He got a deserved two goals. His first was helped by Tom Richards being so high in the wingback position.
“For his second I asked Cody to sit in the middle and he’s won a flick-on, whose timing was great. A really good finish in a one-v-one with the keeper.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a player like Cody who is physical up there. He’s everything that I thought he’d be.
“He’s had a lot of success at this level and has confidence from playing further up the ladder.
“The first goal was great too – brilliant ball from Omar, great movement from Fletch (Alex Fletcher) and good movement from Cody as well.
Bath have beaten all three lower division sides in their pre-season to date and have been overcome at home by Championship side Cardiff and League Two Exeter, with their five friendlies producing a hefty 26 goals.
“We’re getting there,” said Gill. “We mixed our game up – there are some good patterns of play against a very good side in Exeter. They have good energy levels and move the ball around.
“We’ve scored three really good goals, their goals are mistakes from us giving the ball away or allowing them to turn.
“It could be a lot worse – we’ve got great weather, playing football on a great pitch against a good side, we thank Matt (Taylor, Exeter manager and former Bath City coach) for bringing them, they’re always very good with us.”
The contest was part of Bath City’s two-night stay at the University of Bath for a team bonding weekend with a training session included before Friday’s match.
Saturday was a chance for players to recover while Gill and assistant Jim Rollo watched Paulton Rovers’ friendly versus Bristol City under 23s to scout on some potential loan signings.
The evening saw the players and club staff enjoy a meal together with the players ending the weekend with a swim in the outside pool at Combe Grove Manor.
“It’s not a jolly-up,” Gill stressed. “It’s all about working these three days.
“We’re already seeing some of the characters, we put them in dorms for the weekend and it’s developing friendships. It looks a good group going forward.”