The Bees kick-start their FA Trophy campaign this weekend as they welcome National League South side Bath City to The Hive London in the First Round.
John Still’s men will be hoping to return to winning ways following their 1-0 away defeat to Ebbsfleet United in the league last weekend. Danny Kedwell scored with only five minutes remaining as the Bees returned to North London empty handed.
Last Meeting:
The last time these two sides met was in 2004 in the FA Cup, a 2-1 win for Bath City.
Barnet dominated and Steve Perrin saved well to deny Liam Hatch – but the Bees striker made no mistake three minutes after half-time.
Hatch, returning to the side after recovering from a dislocated elbow, struck with a left-foot strike.
The well-travelled Scott Partridge equalised for Bath with a shot from the edge of the Barnet penalty area before scoring the winner late on from Jimmy Benefield’s pass.
Manager: Jerry Gill
Jerry Gill was appointed Bath manager in October 2017 following the departure of Gary Owers.
The 48-year-old began his managerial career at Weymouth in 2010 but resigned after only 44 days before becoming youth team coach at Bristol Rovers. Gill has also coached the Under-18s and Under-23s at Norwich City and Under-18s at Wolves.
The former defender also made over 150 appearances for Bath as a player in a spell that lasted six years.
Gill then went on to play for Yeovil Town, Birmingham City, Northampton, Cheltenham and Forest Green before hanging up his boots in 2010 at Redditch United.
Whilst at Birmingham, he was part of the side that won promotion to the Premier League in 2002 and also clinched a League Cup runner-up medal the season before.
One to Watch: Ross Stearn
Midfielder Ross Stearn first joined Bath in 2013 and went on to be a star player. He bagged 29 goals in 95 games before leaving for Sutton United in 2015.
However, he was back at Twerton Park in January 2018 where he joined on loan from his second spell at the U’s. He netted two goals in eight before penning a permanent deal at the end of the season.
As for this campaign, Stearn has five league goals to his name with his most recent one coming in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to Billericay.
Last Season’s FA Trophy Form:
Bath City will be hoping to go one better than last season’s FA Trophy run when they travel to North London tomorrow.
Entering at the Third Round Qualifying stage, they progressed to Round One after knocking out Margate. However, the tie was taken to a replay after a goalless draw at Twerton Park. It was a similar outcome at the second time of asking as they drew 2-2 before winning 5-4 on penalties.
However, their run ended at the First Round stage after falling to a 2-1 defeat away at Hendon.
This Season’s FA Trophy Run:
Bath face Barnet in Round One after beating Horsham in the final qualifying stage. Jack Batten opened the scoring for The Romans with 10 minutes on the clock before Charlie Harris bagged an equaliser 18 minutes later. Sean Rigg made sure they progressed to the First Round, netting just past the hour mark.
Recent Form in All Competitions:
Bath, who sit ninth in National League South, one point off the play-offs, have clinched two wins in their last five matches in all competitions.
A 3-3 draw away at Wealdstone was quickly followed up by a 1-0 win at home to Eastbourne Boro at the start of November. Their FA Trophy win over Horsham came next before they dropped points against Concord Rangers, drawing 1-1. Bath will be hoping to return to winning ways tomorrow as they go into the game off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Billericay Town on Tuesday night.
Last 5 matches in all competitions: DWWDL
