Southern League Premier Division
Saturday 11 March 2006 - Spencer Stadium - kick off 3.00pm
half-time: 0-2 result: W3-2 attendance: 508
team: Evans, Rollo (c), Power, Coupe, G Jones, S Jones, Bird, Clarke, Walsh (Davidge 71), Partridge, Sandell (Sykes 82). subs not used: Hulbert, Dorrian, Holloway.
man of the match: Scott Partidge
scorers: Partridge (48,57,90)
bookings: Evans (77), Sandell (81)
officials: A Field (Chesham), M Perry (Birmingham), A Lethbridge (Bromsgrove)
league position: 1st form: WWLWWW next match: Northwood (H)
Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

There may still be a long way to go, but if Bath City do win promotion this year they will surely point to this result as a season-defining moment. Scott Partridge's strike seven minutes into injury time not only sealed a match-winning hat-trick, and a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down, but also gave City's massive travelling support genuine hope that this could be their year. The City faithful are canny enough to know that the Southern Premier Division title is still very much Salisbury's to lose, with the Wiltshire outfit needing just one win from their three games in hand to reclaim top spot, but Saturday's victory goes some way to dispelling the myth that City can't hack it against the division's better sides and could prove a huge psychological boost if they finish in the play-offs. Beating Banbury has pretty much guaranteed that much at least and few would deny the uncontained joy of players, managers, fans and directors alike when the final whistle finally blew to end a spell-binding game that more than made up in excitement what it lacked in class. In the adrenalin rush of a victory torn from the claws of defeat, it is easy to forget the fact that Banbury deserved something from this game. Their first-half performance was overshadowed by City's second-half turnaround but, frankly, John Relish's side were lucky to finish the game with 11 players with both Paul Evans and the disappointing Andy Sandell guilty of raising their hands in separate second-half incidents. There was the small matter of City's winner too, which, although perfectly legal, came seven minutes into nine minutes of added time to cap a baffling performance from niggly referee Alfonzo Field.

So often the slow starters this season, City fell behind after just three minutes when Wayne Blossom beat Evans with a superbly-weighted chip from just inside the area after a great through ball from Paul Lamb. It was to mark the start of a torrid first half for City and they failed to register a single shot before the break. Banbury were keen to make the most of City's sloppiness and, after good chances for Andy Baird and Neil Lazarus were wasted, Ady Fuller made it 2-0 with a fiercely-driven free-kick from the edge of box.

A deflated City trudged off with their heads down at half-time, but, whatever was said during the break, they came back out for the second half a side reborn. They grabbed a crucial early goal when a Steve Jones free-kick was flicked on by Tony Bird for Partridge to blast home from six yards. A poor tackle from Graeme Power on Baird led to a stand-off which was broken by Sandell pushing the Banbury man in the face and the referee's failure to produce a card proved an unpopular decision among the home fans. City broke again and, when Partridge's initial shot was brilliantly blocked by the diving James Saulsbury, it bounced up for Phillip Walsh. The lanky striker nodded the ball back to Partridge, who made no mistake at the second attempt. Bird and Walsh were both guilty of wasting great chances as City took hold of the game and, with ten minutes to go, Evans made a smart low save to deny Blossom breaking through. The Banbury striker left a leg in the challenge and an infuriated Evans appeared to lash out in anger, but both players escaped with a caution. The disruption, and a few substitutions, seemed to take the wind out of City's sails and, deep into injury time, a point each seemed fair. In fact, Banbury looked the more likely side to snatch a late winner until Craig Davidge broke down the right wing and crossed into the penalty area. Partridge's first-time shot hit a defender and flew into the net to spark frenzied scenes amid the City fans with a couple of supporters unwisely stripping down to their waists in the freezing conditions.