Winning Away 5 Goals to 1 is Better than Crack!

Bath City beat Bishop's Stortford yesterday by five goals to one. Not at home, but playing away to Bishop's Stortford. I'll just repeat that for anyone who had not been listening the first time: BATH CITY BEAT BISHOP'S STORTFORD YESTERDAY BY FIVE GOALS TO ONE!

To those unfamiliar with the world's greatest non-league club, you might have a few questions. I will try to answer them.

Q: Why is that such a big deal?

A: What, are you nuts? Have you not heard the final score yet? FIVE TO ONE!

Q: Yeah, I got that, but that can't be that amazing. It's not like City have won the league or anything.

A: True, but you probably don't know how bad things were looking for City before the match. There have been a lot of injuries: Chris Holland (bad knee), Mark Badman (pulled hamstring), Stuart Douglas (neck injury), Ryan Robinson (strained back), Richard Evans (injured foot), Aaron Cornwall (pulled groin) and Marcus Browning (stupidity). That left only eleven senior players for manager Adie Britton to choose from.

Q: How can Marcus Browning have a stupidity injury?

A: A bit of poetic license. He got a straight red for headbutting against Hampton & Richmond a few matches ago. He did it right in front of the ref. He's serving a three match suspension.

Q: I thought he was supposed to be bringing leadership to the team, a sort of 'elder statesman.' He did something like that during an injury crisis?

A: Yep.

Q: You're right. Stupid. So, was there no bench at all?

A: Not exactly. Britton named two youth players (Ashley Caldwell and Raif Gwinnett). He did end up playing them in the end when City had a commanding lead, actually. The only other person on the bench was Richard Evans, who as I have said, is unfit.

Q: Okay, that sounds pretty impressive now. Scoring five goals when you are down to your last eleven players is pretty good. But what about this team, this Bishop's Shortbread. Is that a real team? It sounds like a pudding served at country pubs.

A: Please, please! It's Bishop's Stortford. Honestly. And you wonder why they laugh at Americans. Pay attention.

Q: Fine, but are they any good?

A: It's too early in the season to really know how good they are, but most City fans were thinking they would be a tough team to beat at home.This was their first home defeat and they signed a striker this year from Welling who is doing very well: Charlie Sherringham.

Q: Is he related to...?

A: Yes, his son. And he's the one who scored their goal.

Q: All right. That's an impressive win.

A: And it was an away match, don't forget that.

Q: You're right, a very impressive win. Hey, wait a minute!

A: What?

Q: Wasn't Bishop's Shortbread...

A: Stortford!

Q: Yeah, yeah, okay. Weren't they the team that beat City at home at the end of last season, that defeat that really upset you?

A: Yep.

Q: They came back after City had a 2-0 lead? And before that defeat you were still in the hunt for a playoff position?

A: Uh huh.

Q: You must be really pleased to win won back from that lot.

A: Oh yeah. I've been on a real high all day. If I could bottle this feeling and sell it I would be a millionaire. At least until the government banned it.

Q: That good, huh?

A: So good it feels almost as good as that defeat to Stortford last year felt bad. Almost.

Q: Makes you kind of wish you had been there I bet. It would have been even better if you'd been there to see it live and in person instead of just reading about it.

A: I wanted to go, but Bishop's Stortford is a long way. It's almost all the way to Stansted airport.

Q: Kind of takes the edge off it, though, doesn't it? Not seeing it yourself?

A: Yeah, okay.

Q: Wife wouldn't let you go?

A: I didn't even ask. It's almost as far away as Chelmsford and I know I was lucky to go to that one. Not exactly fair on her to take the kids for the whole day on the days I'm not at work.

Q: Fair enough. Where can I read about this amazing victory?

A: Here: The Marquess of Weston's match report on the forum, the Bath Chronicle match report, and Yuffie's news page on the Bath City website.

Q: Thanks.

A: And don't forget this interview with Adie Britton from the Bath Chronicle website either.

Q: Thanks again. Looking forward to Tuesday night against Eastleigh?

A: Bring 'em on!