Fleet’s longest trip of 2023 so far is upon us ahead of a distance double-header that sees the squad follow up Saturday’s visit to Bath with another on Tuesday to Chippenham.
But first up it’s the 160 miles to Twerton Park, the Fleet’s 39th such excursion in a long history with Bath stretching back to 1947. More recently, it’s been rich pickings for the Fleet against a previously traditionally tricky opponent – with Bath having lost the last five meetings.
That run included a 3-1 defeat at the Kuflink Stadium earlier this season and a 2-0 reverse in the corresponding fixture last year at Twerton Park when Ben Chapman and Dominic Poleon were on target.
Fleet will go in search of a double-six this Saturday – a sixth straight league win since New Year’s Day and a sixth straight win over Bath. Having extended the gap at the top as a result of last week’s win over Havant & Waterlooville, another positive result would be the perfect start to a run of away fixtures, with five of the next six on the road.
Given that busy schedule, Dennis Kutrieb will hope to welcome Joe Martin back to action soon and he avoided any further injuries in midweek while fielding a strong side against Dartford in the Kent Senior Cup.
Poleon (pictured above), who has scored in each of the previous three matches against the Romans, took his league total to 20 goals scored last weekend (22 in all competitions) and is homing in on Matt Godden’s 30-goal total from 2015/16 to join that rare club of Fleet players who have fired 30+ in a season. With Rakish Bingham in equally good form alongside or behind him, the visitors will be hoping to breach a Bath defence that has had to plug some gaps in recent weeks.
The home side, looking for a first win against the Fleet in six, have been inconsistent following a good start to the season. They sit slap-bang in the middle of the table in 12th place and recent form is predictably mixed with two wins, two draws and two defeats in the league in 2023, plus an FA Trophy exit to Bracknell Town.
Such inconsistency was typified in the past week with a very creditable win away at Chelmsford followed by a point at home against struggling Hampton & Richmond Borough. Operating with a fairly small squad, Bath boss Jerry Gill had to shuffle his defensive pack following illness to centre-back Jack Batten while Joe Raynes is injured and, of course, striker Alex Fletcher remains out following his serious head injury in November.
Cheltenham Town goalkeeper Max Harris has come in on loan between the posts to replace former Fleet loanee Josh Gould, while boss Gill hinted at a new defensive arrival to plug his gaps at the back. Other new men since Bath’s visit to the Kuflink Stadium earlier in the season include Sonny Cox on loan from Exeter City, plus Bristol City pair James Morton and Marley Rose.
The Romans’ top scorer is the former Truro City frontman Cody Cooke with 11 goals this season and he’s aided in that deparment by Scott Wilson’s six.
Aside from news on the pitch, news about the pitch itself has been the main talking point in Bath during the week with this visit potentially Fleet’s last on Twerton Park grass, as talk of a 3G development at the ground in the near future is currently doing the rounds locally.
• Travelling Fleet supporters can purchase tickets online here. Radio commentary is provided by BathCity Radio – FleetLive coverage will return on Tuesday night at Chippenham Town.
