Bath City
5
Cooke (pen 3, 44, 58), Smith (82), Fletcher (90+1)
Slough Town
1
Goddard (16)
League
Attendance: 1414
Rebels joint manager Jon Underwood described it as “the most even 5-1 game I’ve ever been involved in” after watching his side spurn a load of chances and be punished for sloppy defending in this heavy defeat at Bath City’s Twerton Park.
Cody Cooke did the damage with a hat-trick for the clinical hosts, with late goals from Tom Smith and Alex Fletcher rubbing salt into the wounds as Bath opened the Rebels up on the break, although Slough themselves created enough chances to take something from the game.
It started badly for the visitors with the concession of a penalty kick in the opening minute after Lee Togwell was adjudged to have fouled Scott Wilson – a decision which incensed the Slough management team. Cooke made no mistake from the spot, beating Jonathan North.
Slough then had to suffer the ignominy of being forced to change out of their grey away shirts into a blue Bath City kit, with referee Neil Pratt unhappy with the clash in colours with the hosts’ black and white stripes.
Despite the disruption, Slough found an equalising goal with a quarter of an hour played. Johnny Goddard turned and fired past Joe Wright for his third goal of the Bank Holiday weekend.
City enjoyed much of the ball after this, but the away side were arguably the better of the two sides and Wright had to be at his best to spring to his right and deny Scott Davies’ effort from long range on the half hour mark.
Six minutes later, Kieran Parselle did brilliantly to sprint back and clear an effort from Goddard off the goal line – not the only piece of brave last-ditch defending from the hosts.
Slough were then dealt a blow a minute before the break as Cooke tapped in his second, just as the Rebels thought they may go into half time on level terms. Scott Wilson went on a strong run before teeing up the striker for what proved to be a simple finish.
George Wells went close in the opening minute of the second half, but his strike was blocked by Chris Lines in the goalmouth.
Joe Wright had to be alert to get down quickly and make a good save from George Hunt as Slough pushed hard from an equaliser.
But the next goal went to the hosts, and Cooke. A loose touch from Guy Hollis was seized upon by the striker, who guided the ball into the far corner for his hat-trick.
Once again Slough went close with 14 minutes remaining, as they twice hit the post before Jordan Dyer cleared. The Rebels continued to push hard for a goal but were met with continual resistance by the Romans defence.
And on 82 minutes Slough were caught out with Smith racing through on goal and providing the finishing touch to make it four.
Then, in stoppage time with the Rebels committing players to attack, Zac Bell sprinted the length of the pitch and saw his shot saved, only for Fletcher to follow up and power home the loose ball to cap a miserable afternoon for Slough.
Cody Cooke did the damage with a hat-trick for the clinical hosts, with late goals from Tom Smith and Alex Fletcher rubbing salt into the wounds as Bath opened the Rebels up on the break, although Slough themselves created enough chances to take something from the game.
It started badly for the visitors with the concession of a penalty kick in the opening minute after Lee Togwell was adjudged to have fouled Scott Wilson – a decision which incensed the Slough management team. Cooke made no mistake from the spot, beating Jonathan North.
Slough then had to suffer the ignominy of being forced to change out of their grey away shirts into a blue Bath City kit, with referee Neil Pratt unhappy with the clash in colours with the hosts’ black and white stripes.
Despite the disruption, Slough found an equalising goal with a quarter of an hour played. Johnny Goddard turned and fired past Joe Wright for his third goal of the Bank Holiday weekend.
City enjoyed much of the ball after this, but the away side were arguably the better of the two sides and Wright had to be at his best to spring to his right and deny Scott Davies’ effort from long range on the half hour mark.
Six minutes later, Kieran Parselle did brilliantly to sprint back and clear an effort from Goddard off the goal line – not the only piece of brave last-ditch defending from the hosts.
Slough were then dealt a blow a minute before the break as Cooke tapped in his second, just as the Rebels thought they may go into half time on level terms. Scott Wilson went on a strong run before teeing up the striker for what proved to be a simple finish.
George Wells went close in the opening minute of the second half, but his strike was blocked by Chris Lines in the goalmouth.
Joe Wright had to be alert to get down quickly and make a good save from George Hunt as Slough pushed hard from an equaliser.
But the next goal went to the hosts, and Cooke. A loose touch from Guy Hollis was seized upon by the striker, who guided the ball into the far corner for his hat-trick.
Once again Slough went close with 14 minutes remaining, as they twice hit the post before Jordan Dyer cleared. The Rebels continued to push hard for a goal but were met with continual resistance by the Romans defence.
And on 82 minutes Slough were caught out with Smith racing through on goal and providing the finishing touch to make it four.
Then, in stoppage time with the Rebels committing players to attack, Zac Bell sprinted the length of the pitch and saw his shot saved, only for Fletcher to follow up and power home the loose ball to cap a miserable afternoon for Slough.
Slough Town Lineup
- 1 Jonathan North
- 2 Josh Jackman
- 3 George Wells
- 4 Guy Hollis 19
- 6 Lee Togwell
- 8 Matthew Lench 20
- 10 Elliot Benyon
- 11 Johnny Goddard
- 12 George Hunt
- 14 Scott Davies
- 17 Fabio Sole 16
Substitutes
- 5 Edon Pruti
- 9 Ben Harris
- 16 Gabriel George 17
- 19 Imran Kayani 4
- 20 Aaron Kuhl 8
Bath City Lineup
Joe Wright, Joe Raynes, Dan Greenslade, Jordan Dyer, Kieran Parselle, Alex Fletcher, Dan Hayfield, Cody Cooke, Chris Lines, Luke Spokes, Scott Wilson. Substitutes: Ryan Clarke, Jack Batten, Tom Smith, Elliott Frear, Zac Bell.