National League South Bath sunk by leaders Dartford

BATH City couldn’t deny Vanarama National League South leaders Dartford a fifth straight victory, with the Kent side running out 3-1 winners at Twerton Park.

Both sides could have scored in the opening 10 minutes. Jake Robinson was denied from close range by Bath goalkeeper Ryan Clarke, before Tom Smith saw his shot cleared off the line four minutes later.

It was Bath who next went close on 16 minutes, with Omar Holness seeing his shot strike the outside of the post. The visitors went ahead on 30 minutes when a poor header by Ben Gerring allowed Robinson to cross for Ade Azeez to head home.

The Darts now began to show why they have started the season so well and grabbed a second goal on 45 minutes. Clarke did brilliantly to keep out Jack Jebb’s initial effort but Azeez hooked the ball back across goal for Robinson to tap into the net.

Any fears of a second half collapse, like at Oxford on Monday, were immediately dispelled as Bath tore into Dartford at the start of the second half.

Within three minutes, Marlee Francois saw his header hacked off the line by Jebb. Then, soon after, Holness suffered the same fate, as this time Tom Bonner blocked a goalbound header.

Bath finally got the goal they deserved just past the hour-mark as a weaving run by Alex Fletcher left two Darts defender on their backsides before he steered the ball past Dan Wilks.

Roared on by a third 1000-plus crowd of the season, Bath pushed for an equaliser, though they had an escape on 70 when Azeez broke clear only for Clarke to block his shot. Cody Cooke then had two great chances in the space of five minutes to level the scores. A 76thminute run and cross by Francois saw him volley over from close range, then he got in on goal but Wilks was out to smother his effort.

Three minutes later, Dartford sealed the points as Roberts picked out Porter to score from six yards.