Huge crowd expected for Gulls clash

IN-FORM Bath City face their biggest challenge of the season in this afternoon’s mouthwatering clash with table-topping Torquay.

Over the past month, City have shot up to third in the National League South with a seven-game unbeaten run, containing five wins and six clean sheets. Indeed, the Romans are third in the form table behind only Torquay and second-placed Woking.

Since Gary Johnson, pictured, replaced two-time former City boss Gary Owers at the Gulls’ helm, his side have gone unbeaten over 16 league games.

With a club record-breaking National League South crowd of over 3,000 expected at Twerton Park – potentially Bath’s biggest league attendance at the ground for over 40 years – it all adds up to an enticing face-off in Somerset.

Romans boss Jerry Gill wants to see his side continue their remarkable form with a result against a full-time United outfit.

Gill said: “Torquay’s a fantastic game. They haven’t played for a couple of weeks, so that can work both ways. If it’s me, like our boys, we want to keep playing every week, we want to keep playing and that’s what’s happening.

“We’ve played game after game and we’re on a roll. It’ll be interesting to see how Torquay react to this because they haven’t played.

“They’ve been doing a lot of training because they’re full-time, that’s the advantage they’ve got.”

Chippenham visit tenth-placed Slough, who are two places above the Bluebirds and one point better off. They will be hoping to build on last week’s success at Billericay, who parted company with manager Dean Brennan after the game.

Elsewhere in the division, Gloucester City are away to Oxford City, while Weston-superMare play away to Truro.

Hereford FC will be looking to recover from their FA Trophy exit to Brackley when they entertain National League North relegation rivals Nuneaton at Edgar Street.

The Bulls’ defeat last weekend marked an end to a run of six home games without defeat, which had seen them move out of the drop zone. Nuneaton are adrift at the foot of the table, ten points behind Hereford.

“It’s a huge game for us and another home match,” said Bulls head coach Marc Richards.