Hatters held by hard working Bath

Bath City 0 (0) Luton Town 0 (0)

HARD-WORKING Hatters were left to curse the woodwork as they were held to a goalless draw by Bath at Twerton Park on Saturday, writes Mark Wood.

Andy Drury and substitute Alex Lawless both rattled the frame of the Romans’ goal as Town sought a fifth-straight victory in front of Bath’s biggest crowd of the season, 2,301, buoyed by Luton’s travelling army 965.

Town enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and created most of the chances and, while Bath themselves went close on several occasions with Sido Jombati firing against the bar, it was a game the Hatters probably really should have one.

Luton again named an unchanged team from the side that triumphed 1-0 at Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday night.

Despite hinting at changes, the only alteration boss Richard Money made came on the bench where Craig Hinton, who has returned to Northampton Town after the end of his loan spell, was replaced by youngster Alex Lacey.

Town made a brisk start with Dan Gleeson flashing wide in the opening seconds.

Claude Gnakpa then looped a Jake Howells cross over, while at the other end Gnakpa, going through the defensive motions, allowed in a dangerous cross that had to be turned behind.

A quicksilver break from Keith Keane and Gnakpa almost opened up the Romans on 13 minutes, while a Bath corner came close to breaking the deadlock moments later.

Marc Canham’s near post delivery was met by the impressive Jombati and his header flashed agonisingly across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

The Hatters then created a great chance when Drury’s arrowed in a tantalising cross and after Keane’s snapshot from the edge of the area had been blocked, Carl Pentney saved well from Danny Crow’s toe-poked rebound.

Despite the Hatters shading possession, both sides were creating chances. Adie Harris let fly with a rocket for Bath than just cleared the bar midway through the half before Amari Morgan-Smith’s through ball set Crow clear second later but he could only stab tamely at Pentney.

Crow had another half chance easily saved by Pentney after a good ball from Howells while Gnakpa volleyed across the face of goal from Morgan-Smith’s raking cross.

A long ball over the top set Matthew Barnes-Homer free with 11 minutes of the half left but the ball never fell kindly for him and Joe Burnell won the ball back, only to tumble in a heap and handle. However, much to the consternation of Town’s away following the referee awarded City a free-kick.

The Hatters then missed a gilt-edged opportunity to snatch the lead five minutes before the break. Drury whipped in a stunning ball from the left and, with a whole host of Town players lining up a goal looked a certainty, but Gnakpa somehow bundled the ball wide.

Some questionable refereeing made for a lively start to the second half before Gnakpa warmed the midriff of Pentney and Harris foiled Morgan-Smith as he burst into the box.

Bath then wasted a glorious chance to break the deadlock on 54 minutes. Adam Connolly robbed George Pilkington of the ball and laid a wonderful ball into the path of Lee Phillips but, with only Mark Tyler to beat, he rolled inexplicably wide.

Zdenek Kroca then headed a Drury corner straight at Pentney before Barnes-Homer teed up Crow on the edge of the box and the Bath keeper theatrically beat away his curler.

Some more questionable officiating then almost played into Town’s hands. Crow appeared to foul Gethin Jones in the middle but nothing was given and Drury seized on the ball and powered towards goal. His left-footed effort rebounded off a post and Morgan-Smith could only send the follow up over the bar.

Enlivened by this Town went close again after the hour with substitute Jason Walker almost making an immediate impact. A good ball by Gleeson released him on the right and his centre was driven just wide by Morgan-Smith.

Gnakpa thumped an effort well over and Morgan-Smith dragged a shot wide as Luton continued to strive for an opener.

The visitors then constructed the best chance of the game with 17 minutes left. Keane laid the ball into Walker whose exquisite touch sent Drury clean through but, with just Pentney to beat, the Bath stopper saved well at his feet.

At the other end Town were almost hit with an unstoppable sucker punch. Jombati turned substitute Lawless inside out before arcing a superb effort over Tyler that rebounded off the bar and out.

Some lovely combination play between Gleeson and Lawless saw the Luton right-back volley just wide, while game Bath continued to chase and close to the death.

Four minutes were added at the end, but it was City who looked the more likely with Connolly smashing just wide in stoppage time.

However, with seconds left on the clock, the woodwork once against rescued the Romans. Walker and Crow worked the ball to the onrushing Lawless and he shuddered the bar from an acute angle as the Hatters had to settle for a hard-earned point.

Romans (5-3-2): Carl Pentney, Sekani Simpson, Jim Rollo (C), Gethin Jones, Joe Burnell (Danny Webb 36), Adie Harris, Adam Connolly, Marc Canham, Lee Phillips (Scott Murray 79), Kaid Mohamed, Sido Jombati. Substitutes not used:Callum Hart, Leon Jeanne, Ryan Robinson.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson, Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C), Amari Morgan-Smith, Matthew Barnes-Homer (Jason Walker 61), Andy Drury, Zdenek Kroca, Jake Howells, Claude Gnakpa (Alex Lawless 74), Danny Crow. Substitutes not used: Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Alex Lacey, Godfrey Poku.

Booked: Canham 89.

Referee: W Atkin.

Assistant Referees: D Cook and S Finch.

Fourth Official: A Whittaker.

Attendance: 2,301 (Luton 965).

Star Hatter: Dan Gleeson. Got forward to good effect and defended well against a testing opponent.