M Tanner Sports Weekend & Tuesday round up 15th-18th November 2014
It’s been a busy few days for the M Tanner Sports team managing to cover some of sport on offer in Bath and Bristol this weekend. Here is a brief description of the games we took in exclusively for bath.co.uk
Hope you enjoy it and make sure you take a look at our main site for longer write ups of each event, and most importantly get out in Bath this week and enjoy the sport we have on offer!
Weekend Football
Bath City had a perfect weekend when they won 4-0 against Maidenhead at Twerton Park on Saturday 15th. The Romans went one nil up in spectacular fashion as Watkins had a one on one saved rebounding back to him with the striker managing to cross the ball across goal only for Leon Solomon to plant a firm header into the top corner much to his dismay as he scored a great own goal under very little pressure.
Bath had to wait until the second half to score again this time David Pratt crossed for Nick McCootie who took it on the first time volley. There was then a sending off for Maidenhead as Harry Pritchard saw a straight red for a reaction to a foul by City defender Danny Bowman. It wasn’t a good day for the Maidenhead back line as this time Will Britt in goal dropped a routine catch from a corner allowing young City defender Pat Keary to score his first goal for the club.
City kept going forward against the ten men and got a fourth in the last few minutes when substitute Ashley Kington played a great ball forward finding Pratt one on one with the keeper. City’s top goal scorer didn’t think twice with the finish superbly finishing over the advancing Britt to cap off a fine City performance.
Table Tennis
Hundreds of people, tables and water bottles everywhere and lots of noise; immediate view as you enter the UWE Sports Hall for the Bristol GP. Karina Le Fevre and Gavin Rumgay came out on top but this weekend in the premier events but it was a success for everyone involved with a record number of entries.
The hub of noise and activity was great to see for a sport which is still considered a minor sport in Britain. Making your way up to the crowded viewing gallery you could take in all the tables and try and make sense of who was on which table. There were lots of recognisable faces down there, from the tall Chris Doran to the small Abbie Milwain who were our tips for the grand prix.
The professionalism of the top players was outstanding with the likes of Rumgay, Doran, Jenkins and Tom Maynard putting in serious preparation against every opponent. A great thing to see afterwards was these well-known names giving tips and advice to the more social players afterwards. This could be from stroke advice to different rubbers which would have meant the world to those players who usually only play local league.
Bribar Table Tennis were there at the event with their stall selling all types of different table tennis equipment and handing out the prizes at the end of each event. This is a fantastic opportunity for local players to get some expert advice on blades and rubbers along with a great range of clothing and shoes. So if you ever get the chance to go a GP in your home town then make sure you go and have a chat with them; its stuff you won’t find in the high street and at decent prices.
Tuesday Football
Bath City had the perfect chance to move up a potential 4 places in the league with a win over inform Gosport Borough on Tuesday 18th Nov. City did score first and held that lead for 60 minutes but Gosport proved too strong in the second half and won 3-1.
City started brightly and were moving the ball round well using their 4-4-2 diamond formation. Ashley Kington was back in the side along with Dan Ball at the back in place of Nick McCootie and Dan Bowman with the shape of side working well. City were soon ahead through top goal scorer Dave Pratt. He pounced on a weak back header to the keeper forcing a smart stop, this rebounded back to him with the striker touching it round a covering defender to stroke the ball home.
Andy Watkins, Chas Hemmings and Frankie Artus all had chances but City went in 1-0 up at half time with Gosport struggling to get momentum in attack. The second half started with Gosport coming out from the break with a lot more energy and attacking intent. The City back four managed to weather the storm and then City had a ten minute spell where the chances were coming thick and fast. The most noticeable was when Watkins put in a dangerous ball with Pratt getting the flick on only for this shot to hit the post and roll along the line only to be cleared.
Gosport had their best chances from crossing into the box or set pieces in the air and this is where City came undone. City gave away a free-kick deep on the left hand side, which Dan Smith takes with everyone forward for it. Captain Sam Pearce loses his marker as the ball comes in dropping on the edge of the 6 yard box onto his head giving Jason Mellor, City’s goal keeper, no chance for 1-1.
Ten minutes later Gosport were ahead after City introduced Ross Stearn to change their formation to a 4-3-3 to try and win the game. A corner came in from the left over the top of the main bulk of players bouncing on the edge of the area with Pearce shooting on the half volley which cannons off the underside hitting Mellor on the back and going in.
Then right at the death Gosport get another goal with City chasing the game. Mellor hurriedly clears it to the feet of a City defender but it’s a poor clearance. Dan Wooden shows some quick feet to take it round a hapless defender, who was sold short, and sprint away to finish well one on one.
City travel away this Saturday to Chelmsford in the league and then entertain Hemel Hempstead at home next Tuesday. Make sure to get down and support the lads in their 125 season!
