MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2007
Setanta Shield Round 2
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MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2007 Setanta Shield Round 2 |
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| A County side including six teenagers produced a thrilling high tempo display to thoroughly deserve their success against a Bath City side seeking their third Spytty Park success of the season. The match might have appeared less important than the previous two encounters but you would not have guessed from the endeavours of both sides, although the virtual absence of away fans took away a little of the local derby feel.
The hugely popular Tony Pennock returned to take up duties in goal for County for the first time since his horrific injury at Port Talbot 16 months ago, and he would have needed introducing to most of the players in front of him. Mark Dodds wore the captain’s armband in only his seventh start for County and he was partnered at the back by second year academy member Dan Harrison. 19 year-old left back Shane Brewer was making his first appearance of the season against Blue Square South opposition, while left-winger Richard Evans, at 24, must have considered himself a veteran as he looked across the midfield to find teenagers Scott Armitage, James Simpson and Ashley Evans.
For Bath, the suspended Lewis Hogg was missing, as was Mark McKeever, while first choice full-backs Sekani Simpson and Jim Rollo were on the bench, but those selected were full of experience and know how, and included the 32 year-old former County striker Martin ‘Birdie’ Paul.
County came out of the starting blocks like sprinters seeking Olympic gold and the 30 something strike duo of Julian Alsop and Jason Bowen quickly linked to good effect with the former Welsh international winger forcing an 11th minute save from Paul Evans. The keeper, who has twice been capped by South Africa, was regularly called into action as County kept up the pace with Ian Hillier and Simpson threatening before Alsop fired over the bar from close range. But Bath boss John Relish set County hearts fluttering in the 14th minute when he replaced the injured Scott Rogers with PHIL WALSH. The tall striker had only scored twice this season but each of those goals had been at Newport in Bath’s two victories and he was soon on the score sheet again.
The 24th minute goal was gifted to him by an underhit back pass from stand-in skipper Dodds, but though his presence at the spearhead of a three pronged attack with Paul and Dave Gilroy increased Bath’s goal threat, most of the action was at the other end and Richard Evans almost profited from a mistake from his namesake in the Bath goal only to see his header rebound off the crossbar.
Alsop was rested for the second half when 16 year-old Luke Prosser entered the fray and County soon scored the equaliser their enterprise richly merited when Simpson made a fine run forward and hit the perfect pass from the goal line for RICHARD EVANS to finish in style. Simpson and academy product Ashley Evans in his first senior start were running the midfield and the small crowd were in raptures when HILLIER scored a spectacular goal in the 61st minute to take his personal tally against Bath to three for the season.
The Romans rallied though and forced a couple of setpieces in dangerous areas and when County failed to clear in the 78th minute, Spytty Park was silenced as substitute JASON WOOD levelled. An enthralling contest looked to be heading for extra time before Brewer produced a deep left wing cross and PROSSER nipped in before replacement keeper Owen Dunn to head home the 84th minute winner, and it is County who have the reward of the £2,000 prize money and the chance of further progress with a midweek visit to Hampton & Richmond Borough in the next round.
Man of the Match: County: Dan Harrison - in his manager’s words: “An immense performance.” Bath: Phil Walsh - he saves his goals for Spytty. Special mention: The County Six Teens. As Beads said: “The future’s bright; the future’s amber!” |
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© Colin Jeremiah |
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