Bath City 1 Worcester City 1 (From Worcester News)

Bath City 1 Worcester City 1

6:53pm Monday 31st August 2009

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WORCESTER City drew for the second time in three days as they held on 1-1 for a precious point at Bath City.

Louis Bridges put Richard Dryden’s side ahead at Twerton Park five minutes before the end of an awful first-half but Mike Perrott equalised with a spectacular volley 19 minutes into a much better second period.

City may still be yet to win this season, but they will take heart from having gone unbeaten over the Bank Holiday weekend and having drawn three of their last four games.

Manager Dryden named an unchanged side following an improved performance in the stalemate against Staines Town, but former Reading striker Martin Butler has left the club and was replaced on the bench by Jack Connolly.

Marco Adaggio flashed an effort across the face of Steve Perrin’s goal after six minutes but it was not a sign of things to come as the play became scrappy.

Rob Elvins was lucky to escape punishment in the 15th minute when he took out keeper Perrin while trying to get on the end of a through-ball and, four minutes later, Adaggio blazed over from Graham Ward’s free-kick.

Bath began to enjoy the better possession, yet Ben Hinchliffe was hardly troubled in the City goal and it took Perrott until the 33rd minute to get in a meaningful shot, which was well blocked by Mark Clyde.

However, it was Dryden’s side who ended the half stronger with Ward volleying over and it was a welcome surprise when City took the lead five minutes before the interval. Adaggio wriggled his way to the by-line, did well to hook over a cross and Bridges slid in at the far post to knock the ball past Perrin — a goal which silenced the crowd except for a small Worcester contingent.

Perrott was only able to divert Sido Jombarti’s drive over the bar as the hosts looked to hit back immediately, but Adaggio went even closer seconds later as he twisted and turned before shooting agonisingly wide.

Hinchliffe was called into action early in the second period, pouncing on the ball after Wayne Daniel’s clearance had hit Darren Edwards.

Bridges was replaced by Gary Walker on 52 minutes, just moments after Matt Coupe had been booked for hacking down City’s goalscorer.

Gethin Jones headed over from Bath’s first corner of the second-half before Worcester went up the other end and Adaggio stung the palms of Perrin from Ward’s lay-off.

The hosts, though, drew level in fine style in the 64th-minute. Jombarti delivered an inviting cross from the right and Perrott volleyed the ball acrobatically beyond the dive of Hinchliffe.

The West Country side kept up the pressure with Jones heading just wide soon after and sub Jamie Taylor bringing a fine tip-over out of Hinchliffe, but they were unable to find a winner.

City: Hinchliffe 7*, Clyde 6, Carter 5, Wilding 5, Daniel 6, Kemp (c) 6, Ward 6, Emery 5 (Ledgister 70), Elvins 5, Adaggio 6 (Wardle 75), Bridges 5 (Walker 52). Subs not used: Connolly, Mace.

Referee: S Knapp (Pucklechurch).

Attendance: 620.

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