Bath City 4-0 Sittingbourne

Sittingbourne made the long midweek trip to Bath City's Twerton Park ground last night, a monument to footballs past with its extensive terracing.. just the way that football grounds should be, writes Peter Pitts.

Sittingbourne began the game kicking down the pronounced slope and for the first quarter of an hour looked to be fairly comfortable in this FA Trophy second qualifying round replay.

However, it soon became clear that the Brickies long ball into space hurried game was no match for the one touch speedy game of Bath City. Time and time again the Bath City players got behind the Sittingbourne defence sending in dangerous crosses and goals were always going to be the result.

City eventually opened the scoring in the 25th minute from one such cross when the unmarked Mark McKeever cut inside and let fly with a tremendous shot that looked to be going past the far post but at the last moment curled to the left and flew past Steve Williams into the net.

This was McKeever's first goal for Bath City - and what a goal!

Bath City scored their second on 31 minutes and again it came from a cross, this time Scott Partridge was on the goal line and chested the ball into the net.

Three minutes later Sittingbourne almost pulled a goal back but a tremendous header inadvertently struck Andy Doerr on the goal line and the ball was cleared.

Sittingbourne were now well and truly on the back foot whilst Bath were oozing confidence and this confidence was demonstrated on 37 minutes with a thunderbolt of a goal from Scott Rogers that flew past Williams before he had time to react.

From this point the game was virtually over with Sittingbourne unable to counter the pace of City.

Things didn't get any easier for the Brickies when Paul Ainsworth had to go off just before half time with a nasty looking facial injury.

Sittingbourne ended the half with ten men hoping that Ainsworth would be fit to resume but Charlie Belcher replaced him at the start of the second half.

Bath City started the second half strongly and on 51 minutes only a last gasp challenge by Belcher prevented another goal, then Arek Zarczynski missed his kick from right in front of goal.

Bath City scored their fourth on 73 minutes after a Sittingbourne corner was cleared to Craig Davidge who tore down the right like a greyhound, crossed to McKeever lurking just beyond the Brickies area and he let fly with a shot which seemed to go in the net off the far post.

A minute later Kieran Marsh sent in a 25 yard screamer that had Paul Evans full strength to turn away but by then the cause was well beyond Sittingbourne's reach.

There was a unique situation in the 87th minute when Bath City seemed to agree to take one of their players off to even things up after Sittingbourne had used all their three substitutions but Joe Dowley also had to go off injured. The game therefore finishing with ten a side.

So Sittingbourne won't be going to Wembley this year! There is concern to for all of the injuries, especially Ainsworth's facial injuries. Goalkeeper Williams is also carrying an Achilles injury so Saturdays team to face Cray Wanderers will be interesting.

Sittingbourne: Williams, Knowles (Spiller 76), Dowley, Ashmore, Ainsworth (Belcher 46 ), Marsh, Doerr (Singh 43), Hockey, Lovell, Browning, Sherwood.