By Harry Mottram: In a stunning finish to the football association season Bath City FC known as the Romans clinched victory in the Somerset Premier Cup Final to lift the trophy after a stylish 4-1 win over Paulton Rovers at the Optima Stadium on May 2.
The football club issued this match report:
City dominated the game despite falling behind on 11 minutes when former Roman Leo Eglin sent Butcher racing clear to slot the ball past Max Harris. Paulton occasionally posed a threat on the break but just past the half-hour mark City looked to have won a penalty, Scott Wilson was taken out by keeper Sainsbury, however the referee saw nothing wrong with the robust challenge. The keeper was called into action again on 40 minutes when he brilliantly blocked Edwards’ close-range header but, two minutes later, could do nothing to keep out Dan Hayfield’s glancing header from a Chris Lines corner.
There was more of the same after the break with Wilson, Rex Mannings, Jordan Dyer and Hayfield all going close. With only nine minutes left on the clock, City finally broke Rovers’ resistance. Dyer was fouled just outside the box and Hayfield lashed home the free kick. With Paulton forced to commit men forward City took full advantage scoring twice in stoppage time. Luke Spokes won possession on the halfway line before sending Wilson racing forward to shoot past Sainsbury. Then Spokes got on the scoresheet himself, blasting the ball home from just inside the area to make it 4-1 and secure City’s first Somerset Premier Cup success for 15 years.
Bath City 4 (Hayfield 42′, 81′, Wilson 90+2′, Spokes 90+4′) – Paulton 1 (Butcher 11′)
Jack Batten Named Player of the Season!Jack Batten was named the 2022/23 Supporters’ Player of the Season following City’s 2-1 win over Oxford City at Twerton Park on Saturday. The longest serving current Roman also picked up the Manager’s Player of the Season award. Scott Wilson was named as Players’ Player of the Season whilst also securing the Golden Boot award for his 23 goals. Danny Greenslade’s stunning 30 yard strike against Eastbourne Borough at Twerton Park won the goal of the season. Supporters of the season were Jayne and Steve Smith, whilst the Young Supporter award went to Tristan Westlake.Jack Batten and Jerry Gill were also given awards for 250 appearances and 250 games in charge respectively, whilst the biggest cheer of the evening was when Alex Fletcher spoke to the audience to show the remarkable recovery he has made following his terrible injury in November.
The full list of winners is:
Supporters’ Player of the Season: Jack Batten
Players’ Player of the Season: Scott Wilson
Manager’s Player of the Season: Jack Batten
Golden Boot Winner: Scott Wilson
Goal of the Season: Danny Greenslade (v Eastbourne Borough 7/1/23)
Supporters of the Season: Jayne and Steve Smith
Young Supporter of the Season: Archie Westlake