Table Position: 13th
Top Scorer: Cody Cooke (14)
Manager: Jerry Gill
Nickname: The Romans
2022/23 average attendance: 1,089
Tomorrow afternoon Concord Rangers have the chance to record back-to-back wins for the first time since November as the Beach Boys travel west to take on Bath City.
On Thursday night Rob Small's men ended their seven game losing run with a vital 1-0 win over fellow struggler Hungerford Town to move themselves within nine points of safety.
Lewis Manor's second half strike was enough to seal the deal for Concord with Manor scoring his second goal in as many games. It was also the third consecutive Concord goal to have been scored by the 31 year old with him also netting against Farnborough and St Albans City.
Rangers will be hopeful of their chances at registering another victory as their hosts are currently in a poor run of form.
Bath have lost four games on the spin and as a result their playoff hopes look to be over for another season. As well as this the Romans were beaten 1-0 by Concord's relegation rivals Weymouth last Saturday.
Jerry Gill's men currently sit 13th having gone 296 minutes without scoring a goal and having gone six games without a clean sheet.
Despite their poor form Bath will still be confident of three points as the Romans have won three of their past five meetings with Concord; including the reverse fixture which they won 2-0 back in October thanks to a Cody Cooke brace. As well as this Concord have only ever won twice at Twerton Park and are 15 games without a clean sheet against the Romans.
Last season saw a win for the home side in both meetings. In November Bath edged to a 2-1 win and in the reverse fixture on Canvey Island a Nana Kyei hattrick inspired the Beach Boys to a 3-1 win.
Given the recent meetings between the two sides it's likely that someone will get the chance to score from the penalty spot. Five of the past six games between Bath and Concord have involved either side scoring a penalty.
Three points will be vital for both sides. The hosts will know that anything less than a win, twinned with Worthing beating Braintree Town, will confirm they're place in the Vanarama National South for next season - thus ending their playoff ambitions. Whilst for the visitors a win is necessary in their continued fight for survival - especially given that they have a real chance to make ground as strugglers Hungerford and Cheshunt travel to top four sides Chelmsford City and Ebbsfleet United respectively.
Key Player
Cody Cooke
Following Alex Fletcher's injury earlier this season, Cody Cooke has had to step up and become Bath's main source of goals and currently the striker is the Romans' top scorer with 14 goals to his name - equalling his tally from the last campaign.
Cooke will also be a familiar name for Concord as the 30 year old scored a brace at the Aspect Arena in October when the Romans won 2-0.
The Truro born attacker has previously seen playing time in the Scottish Premiership and the Vanarama National League earlier in his career having represented St Mirren and Weymouth.
Form
Bath City
L - 1-3 vs St Albans City (H)
L - 0-1 vs Welling United (A)
L - 0-2 vs Taunton Town (H)
L - 0-1 vs Weymouth (A)
Concord Rangers
L - 0-1 vs Taunton Town (A)
L - 0-7 vs Worthing (A)
L - 1-2 vs St Albans City (H)
W - 1-0 vs Hungerford Town (H)
Head-to-head
15/10/2022: Concord Rangers 0-2 Bath City
09/04/2022: Concord Rangers 3-1 Bath City
20/11/2021: Bath City 2-1 Concord Rangers
08/12/2020: Concord Rangers 3-2 Bath City
15/02/2020: Concord Rangers 0-1 Bath City
By Nathan Williams
Cone on Concord!
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