Bath City manager Scott Bartlett believes the club’s early pre-season matches have been instrumental in preparing the team for the challenges ahead. Following last week’s victory over Larkhall Athletic, the Romans were narrowly defeated 2-0 by Cardiff City Under-21s at Twerton Park on Tuesday evening.
Bartlett emphasized the importance of these early fixtures in assessing the squad’s strengths and identifying areas for improvement. “We’ve covered some miles and the lads have trained hard, but these games really help us answer a lot of questions,” he said. “We’re becoming more familiar with the group and experimenting with different players and tactics. It’s clear we still have some elements to improve, but that’s exactly what pre-season is for.”
Several trialists featured prominently as Bartlett looks to assemble a competitive squad for the Southern League Premier South. “We still need to recruit two or three quality players and potentially bring in some loan signings to add depth and competition,” he explained. “At the moment, I’m really pleased with the group we’re building. Moving from National League South to Southern League presents new challenges, but as a big club in this division, we’re eager to embrace them.”
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The game itself saw Cardiff strike early through a precise through ball from Isaac Davies to Hayden Allmark, who finished confidently. Bath City pressed hard to equalize, creating several chances with dangerous crosses and shots, but Cardiff’s goalkeeper Ewan Griffiths made key saves throughout the match. The visitors extended their lead after a penalty was awarded and successfully converted by winger Mannie Barton.
Bartlett reflected on the quality of the opposition: “Cardiff, managed by my good friend Darren Purse, always produce talented players. They tested us well, especially in tough conditions that made it a sticky night.”
Looking ahead, Bath City will face League One Plymouth Argyle at Twerton Park this Saturday, providing another significant test during pre-season. Bartlett noted, “We’re grateful that Plymouth are coming up to play us. This will be a great challenge for the team and a fantastic opportunity for our supporters to see more competitive football. Our pre-season involves carefully planned fixtures to build fitness and form without overloading the players.”
The Romans will use the coming weeks to fine-tune their squad and tactical approach as they prepare for the new season.
Bath City lineup vs. Cardiff City U21s:
Wiles-Richards; Raynes (Trialist HT), Batten (Stirling 72), Tomlinson, Greenslade (Parselle HT); Tillson (Pritchard 79), Trialist (Windsor HT), Trialist; Wilson (Streczen 85), Trialist (Trialist HT), Parsons (Boldewijn 72).
Substitute not used: Cook.