Two goals from Nat Jarvis helped Bath City secure a 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town in Thursday's pre-season friendly. Carl Winchester scored for Gary Johnson's side but it was the National League South side who won the tightly fought contest.
The Robins started the better of the two sides and were denied by a great double save from Bath's trialist keeper Matt Cafer, denying Danny Wright's curling shot and then Mo Eisa on the rebound.
Jerell Sellars looked sharp throughout the first half and tested Cafer from 20 yards with a swerving shot, one that the keeper did well to hold onto.
Bath had chances of their own and Jordon Forster did well to clear from a yard out after good work from Nick McCootie down the right for the hosts.
The game became scrappy in the last 10 minutes of the first half and the score at the break was 0-0.
After a slow start to the second half, Bath took the lead in the 59th minute from the penalty spot through Nat Jarvis. Exactly why the penalty was awarded is still unclear but the referee seemed to indicate that Rhys Lovett had fouled the striker as he went to shoot.
Just three minutes later the scores were level as Carl Winchester drilled a free-kick in low that somehow squirmed under the Bath keeper and in.
The parity didn't last long however as Bath regained the lead in the 66th minute. McCootie again did well down the right and fizzed in a cross that found the head of Jarvis to score his and Bath's second of the evening.
Cheltenham pushed hard for a late equaliser and Jordon Forster had a header cleared off the line in injury time but Bath held on to secure the win.
Our next game is another away trip, this time to the seaside as we take on Weston-Super-Mare with the game kicking off at 3pm on Saturday (22nd July).
Cheltenham side:
Rhys Lovett, Elliot Kebbie (Trialist), Jordon Forster, Matt Bower, Jamie Grimes, Callam Jones (Jordan Cranston, 15, Dan O'Shaughnessy, 46), Jerell Sellars (46, Carl Winchester), Nigel Atangana, Adam Page (Josh Thomas, 59), Danny Wright, Mohamed Eisa