British Gas Business Football League Premier Division
Saturday 13 January 2007 - Twerton Park - kick off 3.00pm
half-time: 1-0 result: W5-0 attendance: 627
team: Evans, Simpson, Rollo (c), G Jones (Clarke 76), Holland, S Jones, Rogers (Harris 70), Hogg, Edwards (Walsh 76), Partridge, McKeever. subs not used: Davidge, Green.
man of the match: Scott Partridge
scorers: Edwards (43), Partridge (58,67,73), Hogg (79)
bookings: none
officials: T Lawrenace (Bridgwater), S Barclay (Dorset), M Derrien (Dorset)
league position: 1st form: DLLWWW next match: Clevedon (A)
Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

As hat-tricks go, they don't come much easier than the one Scott Partridge scored to take Bath City to the summit of the British Gas Business Premier Division on Saturday. After five games without a goal, Partridge more than earned his three gift-wrapped strikes against a poor, poor Cheshunt side following yet another tireless running display at Twerton Park. City's top-scorer had a hand in all five goals, which made up for a largely forgettable first half, and was the shining light in what was a very workmanlike 5-0 hammering. The result itself only served to underline what Relish has been claiming since the start of his reign at Twerton Park. As soon as City grabbed the first goal at the end of the first half, Cheshunt, who had been happy to stick nine men behind the ball previously, were forced to come after the game. A better side might have competed, and possibly grabbed an equaliser, but an already sorry-looking visiting outfit simply crumbled under the City onslaught and there must be serious question marks over right-back Simon Peddie, who went AWOL for almost every goal. For their part, City were devastatingly efficient. None of the goals will live particularly long in the memory, but they all came after excellent team moves which completely by-passed the Cheshunt defence to leave simple finishes. Forlorn keeper Martin Peat was the only Cheshunt player to come out of the game with much credit, but he was given no help at all by his wayward defenders.

Apart from a tight opening ten-minute spell where they actually pushed men forward, Cheshunt's tactics seemed to rely on frustrating City by defending in numbers rather than trying to score themselves. It almost worked in the first half, and at times City looked positively pedestrian as they tried to open up the visitors, only to be left scratching their heads. Darrell Cox nearly opened the scoring for Cheshunt in the opening five minutes but his effort from the edge of the box was well dealt with by Paul Evans at the second attempt. City started to take control of possession after that with the visitors content to defend deeper and deeper. Mark McKeever forced Peat into a couple of good stops, and Partridge wasted an effort inside the six-yard box as City probed for an opening. Cheshunt were holding on comfortably as half-time approached but, with a minute to go, City finally broke through. Good work from Lewis Hogg and Scott Rogers saw Partridge deftly flick the ball on to Darren Edwards at the back post and the former Yate striker did well to lift a first time effort over Peat from a tight angle to make it 1-0. The half was over seconds later and, when the two teams came out after the break, a demoralised Cheshunt already had the look of a beaten side.

They did at least attempt to push more men forward, but it only served to create more space for City to exploit. Edwards had already smashed over the bar with a speculative overhead kick from a McKeever corner before Partridge doubled City's advantage. A good cross from Edwards from the right found his strike partner in acres of space at the back post for a simple finish from three yards out. Partridge was on hand again seven minutes later when some poor marking allowed him to wriggle clear from a McKeever corner for another tap-in. And his 15-minute hat-trick was complete when Edwards again crossed in from the right for another easy finish at the back post. Cheshunt had already given up by the time Lewis Hogg rolled home the fifth from eight yards out after good chasing from Phillip Walsh. City still looked hungry for more when referee Tim Lawrence put Cheshunt out of their misery with the final whistle.