Pre-season Friendly Tuesday 8 August 2006 - Winterfield Road - kick off 7.45pm half-time: 1-0 result: W2-0 attendance: n/a team: Evans, Rollo (c), S Jones, Coupe (Pearson 76), G Jones, Clarke, Pepperell (Pritchard 45), Hogg, Walsh (Davidge 65), Partridge, McKeever. subs not used: Green, Baggs, York. man of the match: Nat Pepperell scorers: Walsh (13), Partridge (57) bookings: none officials: n/a league position: n/a form: DDWWWW next match: Cwmbran (H) Report taken from Paulton Rovers website A goal in each half from Bath City’s two main strikers were enough to give them victory in a thoroughly entertaining and competitive friendly at Winterfield Road. After City very nearly took a 6th minute lead when Steve Jones got forward to narrowly head over from distance, Paulton skipper, Mark Harrington took a free quick which sent Dan Cleverley away on the right but Paul Evans did well to come off his line and deny Ashley Barnes. Rovers had a good opportunity to open the scoring after 10 minutes when another free kick found Nick Hudson but he headed straight at Evans. City went ahead on 13 minutes when a corner from the right found Phil Walsh unmarked at the near post and his powerful header beat Paulton keeper John Rendall, who with hindsight, might well feel he should have come for the cross. City then nearly increased their lead through Natt Pepperell, a trialist from Swansea City, as first a fine curling right foot shot just missed the far post and then following a good run down the right flank his cross proved just too strong for the onrushing Walsh. Rovers almost equalised in the 33rd minute as Barnes intercepted a poor back pass to round Evans but his shot from an acute angle was cleared off the line by Matt Coupe. Barnes then did well to release Dan Cleverley but with only Evans to beat his shot went wide of the near post. City responded and Rendall did well to parry a fierce long distance drive from the lively Walsh but the striker should have done better 9 minutes into the second half when good work from Scott Partridge gave him a good scoring opportunity but his rushed effort went well wide. City were not to be denied for long and on 57 minutes a long ball found Partridge running clear and he showed all his experience to lob the ball over the head of the advancing Rendall and into the back of the net. Rovers then created a number of chances but failed to fully test Evans in the Bath goal. Walsh then sustained an injury in the 65th minute and not surprisingly was immediately replaced by Craig Davidge. City then failed to make the game absolutely safe as first a miss hit shot from Davidge found Mark McKeever clear but Rendall saved well and then a corner from the right found Partridge unmarked at the far post but he headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Rovers finished the game strongly with Steve Bridges, a 63rd minute substitute for Barnes, causing the City defence some problems with his speed. However both Dean Evans and Dan Cleverley could only shoot straight at the Bath keeper when well placed. Both sides played good, attractive football but City deservedly edged it with their superior finishing