TROWBRIDGE SUBDUED BY BATH
RE-ARRANGED ATTACK FAILED TO TAKE SCORING CHANCES
Trowbridge Town, travelling for the fifth time in this season's F.A. Cup competition, passed out at Bath last Saturday fighting hard and playing commendably good football which the record attendance of 10,332 spectators acknowledged with rousing cheers as the teams left the arena. The score m Bath City s favour was 3-nil, and all three goals were scored by former Trowbridge player - right-winger Newman. Let it be unhesitatingly recorded that the City fully deserved their right of entry into the First Round Proper for the first time in the past seven years. They won because they possessed all the great Cup-tie essentials - craft and unhesitating marksmanship, which were Trowbridge's weaknesses. In midfield Trowbridge's teamwork often equalled that of their Southern League opponents, and it brought them glorious openings in the first half-hour of the game, but how woefully weak their finishing was shown by the fact that goalkeeper Liley was seldom troubled with what could be classed as likely scoring shots. As the game progressed so the feeling grew that Trowbridge would not score, and the fact that they did not was a great disappointment to the large body of Town supporters who had travelled optimistically and enthusiastically to the City's splendid ground at Twerton. In their previous four Cup games Trowbridge had scored 12 goals, and surrendered only one to their opponents.
Many of the Town followers, felt that the dropping of Jim Allaway had a bad psychological effect upon a side which, though not faultless, had nevertheless kept the flag of victory aloft in league and cup games. True. Cyril Greenland did not strengthen the attack, but it is doubtful whether the inclusion of Allaway would have saved the day. The whole line of attack was less impressive than it has been for several weeks, but was that not due to the cleverness and efficiency of the City defenders?. As we recorded earlier, the Town forwards did not possess the necessary craft and guile which result in goals. The City did not have a tremendous number of scoring chances, thanks to the fine work of the Trowbridge defence, but they made good use of them. Tuck and Lovesey have seldom been seen to better advantage; both worked like Trojans throughout and it must have been disheartening to have found the ball being repeatedly slammed back at them through the failure of the forwards to hold the ball or make any real impression on the City defence. In goal George Vince, although handicapped by a badly bruised toe (sustained in training), rose to great heights, and had no chance with the shots that beat him. Newman was, indeed, fine opportunist to whom Bath must have been truly grateful. It was a grand sportsmanlike match for a cup-tie, free entirely from really rough incidents. Afterwards, Mr. Eddie Hapgood, the City manager, told Player-Manager Harry Haddon that his team had made vast improvement since he watched them in the replay against Warminster.
From the kick-off Trowbridge played well, and repeatedly swept the ball into the City goal area, where Lew Bradford (former Trowbridge captain) and Lockier (a first-class back) had many anxious moments. Webb foraged well in the left, and when Liley dropped the ball he was lucky to find no one at hand, otherwise it might well have been a goal from Trowbridge. Dandon was knocked out, but recovered, though obviously shaken. When the City got moving Ellison was prominent, but Vince saved. Hazell could not get going on the Trowbridge right and good openings were wasted. Play continued up and down the field in exciting fashion, and just as it looked like proving a goalless half City scored. The ball came up the centre and was neatly switched by Snook to the right, where Newman cut in smartly and beat Vince with a rather gentle but well-placed shot just inside the upright. From a free for a foul on Hazell, Lovesey cut in and shot hard but the ball was smothered by a defender. Just on half-time Snook headed against a Town upright, and as the ball came back into play Coppack conceded a corner. A shot by Granville - a rare incident in the game - sent the ball narrowly over the crossbar.
TROWBRIDGE UNLUCKY
Trowbridge were definitely unlucky lo have been denied a penalty kick few minutes after the restart. From the Press box it was clear (and others in a similar position agreed) that when Granville was fouled he was well within the penalty "Box." But Referee Martin (of Gloucester) ran across and placed the ball on the edge of the area, and the shot came to naught. An equaliser at this stage would have been a great tonic to Trowbridge. City did most of the attacking in this half, but Trowbridge were always retaliating with stylish if un-productive football which was rather overdone at times. Vince saved brilliantly low down from Smythe, and another shot by Snook whizzed dangerously past an upright. Dando was injured again but resumed, dazed. In the 77th minute City scored their second goal - a grand running shot by Newman which passed across Vince into the opposite side of the goal net at tremendous speed. Ten minutes later Newman repeated the dose with a similar shot, and Trowbridge's fate was sealed. Jones played well at centre half for City, but their wing halves, Onslow and Whitfield, were fortunate to find the opposition so ineffective.
Teams; Trowbridge Town - Vince; Coppack, Dando; Lovesey. Tuck, Marshall; Hazell. Granville. Greenland. Dean. Webb. Bath City - Liley Bradford Lockier; Onslow, Jones. Whitfield, Newman. Smythe. Snook. Boyd, Ellison.
In the first round proper Bath City will be at home to Southend United.
The Western Dally Press report on the said "No finer cup game has been seen at Bath in years. It was great entertainment which fully deserved the record crowd. Both sides played attractive football, but the end the City's fitness began tell, and they were quicker on the ball." Trowbridge's share of the gate was £382
Report from The Wiltshire Times
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