Dominic Samuel came off the bench to earn the Fleet a point a year on from his broken leg at last season’s August Bank Holiday fixture. The Fleet’s No.14 converted at the far post with a minute left on the clock following a controversial early opener from visitors Bath.
Most of those players rested at Slough returned to the lineup this afternoon in what was a slow start at the Kuflink Stadium but the visitors found themselves in front with just 10 minutes on the clock. A free-kick was awarded to Bath and as they took it quickly, the referee blew his whistle. Scott Wilson proceeded to make off towards goal as the rest of the players remained in position in reaction to the whistle and despite the protests, the Bath striker then only had Cousins to beat.
Bath continued to enjoy the opening stages with Will Jenkins Davies forcing a strong save from Cousins with a back heeled attempt.
Luck continued to fall short for the Fleet when contact on Toby Edser inside the area had the home fans appealing but the referee instead awarded a free-kick to the visitors and issued a harsh yellow to the Fleet midfielder.
The Fleet upped the pressure in the closing stages of the first-half when a chance for Aaron Cosgrave saw him make a superb run down the right flank to deliver a ball into the box for George Moncur but he delayed a little and Bath turned it out for a corner. That was whipped across by Ben Coker to pick out Josh Coley at the far post. The Fleet’s No.21 got a shot away that looked destined for the net but goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards pulled off a quick reaction save to block.
Fleet needed to turn their possession into chances as the second-half went on and balls forward to Cosgrave and Coley, with Charlie Seaman in support, were dealt with by a stubborn Bath defence.
The closest the hosts came to that point arrived on 65 minutes when a chip over the Bath defence found Coley in space. He turned quickly but may have been surprised by the space he had and his first-time shot was blocked by Wiles-Richards.
Bath got away on the break and Alex Fisher came close to snatching a second but Cousins stood strong and forced that one clear.
Substitute Lennon Peake took on the responsibility for a direct run at the defence and his shot was a good one from the edge of the box but the Bath keeper got across to make an acrobatic save that sent the ball up and over.
Fleet got their centre-backs forward to put some aerial pressure on Bath and a succession of corners and free-kicks kept the visitors penned into the final third as the clock ticked down. Max Ehmer saw one chance drop on the penalty spot but there were too many bodies in the way for a clean shot at goal.
But the equaliser arrived when Seaman’s corner delivery was recycled around the box. Ben Chapman launched a cross that was headed down by Tom Dallison and fell kindly at the far post. As everyone seemed to stop as it landed, Samuel was first to react and fire it home.
Eight minutes of added time gave the Fleet hope to perhaps take all three points but Bath regrouped to earn a point on their travels.
EUFC: Cousins, Seaman, Coker (Chapman 58), Olagunju, Ehmer, Dallison, Hessenthaler (Peake 81), Edser (Kennedy 68), Moncur (Barnes 68), Coley (Samuel 81), Cosgrave. Subs not used: Fielding, Bellagambi.
BCFC: Miles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Tomlinson, Batten, Parselle, Jenkins-Davies, Wilson (Fisher 61), Ash, Tillson, Russe. Subs not used: Clark, Horsell, Sweeten, Beardmore, Matthews
Attendance: 1,395 (135 away)
Photos: ©EUFC / Tom Harris
