Chamberlain opens account as Bath City win at Farnborough

MATCH REPORT: Farnborough 0 Bath City 1 (Chamberlain 78)

Loan signing Elliott Chamberlain struck 12 minutes from time to earn Bath City a morale-boosting victory at Cherrywood Road.

City’s success – only their second in their last ten matches – propelled them seven places up the Blue Square Bet South table and away from the relegation places.

The visitors went into the match on the back of a dour 1-0 defeat at home to Staines Town – a result that raised questions about the future of head coach Lee Howells - but in the first half demonstrated everything they lacked on Saturday. They pressed well in midfield, had the best of the chances and kept the division’s third-highest scorers quiet.

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Their best chance came on 20 minutes when Noah Keats flicked the ball on to Chamberlain, whose shot was turned round the post by loanee Farnborough keeper Jordan Clement. From the resulting corner, Mark Preece rose above the defence but his header was cleared off the line by Olly Treacher with Clement beaten.

As City pressed, even Sekani Simpson got in the act with a long-range shot that sailed narrowly wide. Five minutes before the interval, a dipping Charlie Griffin shot only cleared the crossbar by a couple of feet.

Farnborough’s chances were few and far between, with forward Dave Tarpey frequently caught offside and leading scorer Reece Connolly looking strangely subdued.

The second half looked as though it would be a different story, though, as the hosts poured forwards in numbers.

Twice Dan Bennett had shots saved by Jason Mellor, one from point-blank range on 70 minutes. Gethin Jones also blocked a shot from Reece Connolly before Bennett’s dipping volley came back off the crossbar.

With the visitors looking in real danger of conceding, they conjured up the winner at the other end with 12 minutes remaining.

A long ball downfield was picked up by Chamberlain, who ran on well before seeing his first shot stopped by Inman’s feet with Clement off his line. The Exeter youngster made no mistake with his second attempt, sliding the ball into the corner of the net to register his first goal in City colours.

Farnborough's expected onslaught never materialised in the closing stages as the visitors spurned the best chances late on.

Kerry Morgan, on for a tiring Chamberlain, managed to miss an absolute sitter after winning the ball well in midfield.

Then, two minutes into stoppage time, the diminutive winger again found himself with a golden chance when Clement raced off his line, only lob high and wide.

In the end it didn’t matter and City left the field to resounding applause from the hardy group of supporters who had made the trip to Hampshire and were rewarded with their team's first league double of the season.

Farnborough: Clement, Huggins (O’Regan 82), Treacher, Inman, Inns, R Jones, Bennett, Laidler, R Connolly, Tarpey (Hammond 46), Ciardini. Subs not used: Bosch, Moody, Norris.

Bath City: Mellor, Simpson, Ball, Burnell, G Jones, Preece, Keates, Canham, Allen (Norris 85), Chamberlain (Morgan 85), Griffin (Connolly 72). Sub not used: Brown.

Referee: Carl Brook.

Attendance: 326.