Yesterday afternoon was stressful – the final day of Bath City’s season. A win or a draw would see them progress into the Blue Square South Play Offs, giving the chance to get promoted. Defeat and the team would be dependant upon various other results going in their favour.

City took on Saint Albans City- a team in mid-table mediocrity. Their season was over. They were not going down, nor where they challenging for promotion. All at stake for them was pride. If football was dictated by a script, it would state that Saint Albans would roll over and lose 4-0. They had other ideas.

While Saint Albans rarely looked like scoring, they defended well, and the patched-up Bath City side, missing various key players through injury and suspension, battled hard to score the all important goal. It never came.

Frequent checking of scores across the country brought relief when we learnt Chelmsford were beating Havant 2-0 and Braintree were losing at the hands of Newport. With the football gods ensuring the scores were going in our favour (Havant and Braintree both losing), even a defeat to Saint Albans would see us into the play offs.

As the second half progressed, the much desired goal still failed to materialise. Tensions amongst the home crowd grew as scores from Havant filtered through. They had come from behind to take the lead, 3-2. Moments later it was 4-2. A goal for Saint Albans now would effectively kill Bath City’s play off dream.

Deep into the game, Bath City’s Darren Edwards missed an open goal. The chance to win the game and secure the play offs. It really was a case of ‘hearts in mouths’, especially as I learnt Havant were beating Chelmsford 5-2!

Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, the referee blew for full time. The game had ended 0-0. Whatever Havant, Chelmsford, Braintree or Newport had done was irrelevant. Bath City had the point they needed. They were there.

The tannoy announced a home tie against Dover on Tuesday night but was shortly corrected; informing us it was, in fact, Chelsmford who would be coming to Somerset midweek. Pity for them. A trip to Essex for me on Saturday won’t be a barrel of laughs either… unless we win.

I managed to calm my nerves in the clubhouse, enjoying a pint of beer while discussing the clubs prospects with fellow fans as well as Bath City manager, Adie Britton, and club captain Jim Rollo.

The players and fans were jubilant. I just hope they know the job is far from finished. There are another 3 more games to be won, if the promised land of the Blue Square Premier is to be reached.

Me praying for things to go our way... or probably just checking the scores at Havant

Don’t know where Bath City play? Got lost while on route to Twerton Park?

Never shall that happen again. Twerton Park is now labelled for all to see.

Taken from my bedroom window this evening…

And by a fellow fan at the ground

Lewes 1-2 Bath City

1 more league game to go

1 point needed

3 ideally

4 sleepless nights until Saturday