Chichester City beat high flyers Bath City at Oaklands Park in a tale of two cities thanks to an early goal from top scorer Harry Bridle and a second half strike by Lucas Pattenden.

The visitors came into the match in fine form with seven wins and only one loss in their previous eight league games, whereas Chi’s form has been up and down.

City made just the one change to the starting XI who won at Frome.

Skipper Rob Hutchings again lined up at left-back with Isaac Bello on the other side, with Ben Pashley and Ryan Davidson in the heart of the defence. Max Evans started between the sticks with Joe Moore, Emmett Dunn, Lucas Pattenden and Worthing loanee Matt Burgess in midfield, behind top scorer Harry Bridle and Brandon Chebby.

Celebrations at Oaklands Park, where Chi City beat Bath City | Picture by David Richardson

placeholder image — Celebrations at Oaklands Park, where Chi City beat Bath City | Picture by David Richardson

The visitors were awarded a free kick in the third minute but Evans collected the resulting header. Then Chebby had a shot of sorts and Bridle turned the loose ball in to put City in front.

Donovan Wilson got Bath’s leveller 11 minutes in before Callum Wood’s corner was headed away by the Chi backline.

Pattenden nearly reached a through ball ahead of Bath keeper Harvey Richards after Evans denied Oliver Chamberlain and Pashley made a couple of blocks as Bath looked to go in front.

Nice play from Pedro Elawar allowed him to find room but Chamberlain knocked the ball out for a Chi goal kick. Emmett Dunn hit a weak shot at the mid-point of the first half before Borges beat a hesitant Chi skipper Hutchings – only to blast over the bar.

Star man Chebby fizzed over a cross although no one was there to capitalise, before Evans saved from Chamberlain.

Davidson received some lengthy physio treatment just after the half-hour mark and had to be replaced by new boy Will Sweet. It tranpired Davidson had suffered a broken jaw.

Hutchings got done down the right wing by Chamberlain, who pulled a decent save out of Evans.

When Sweet was man-handled by Parsons, and after a melee, referee Joel Lamping consulted his assistant and brandished a straight red.

The visitors changed it up at the break bringing on Reuben Reid, and Bridle had a shot blocked in the first minute of the second half.

The away team thought they had gone ahead moments later through Reid but it was chalked off for offside.

Dunn headed away a corner as the away side pressed once more and Bello’s shot-cross was simple for Richards before Burgess was impeded just outside the penalty area.

Wood delivered one across the danger zone for Bath but no-one was there. A disappointing cross was easy enough for Richards before Pattenden smashed in Chebby’s fine cross on the hour to make it 2-1.

The Chi No19 might have extended the lead following a Pattenden delivery in the 68th minute, and Enzio Boldewijn’s set piece went wide. Then Pattenden’s header was saved spectacularly by Bath keeper Harvey Richards before Bridle blazed one over the bar.

The Somerset side made a triple substitution on 77, and Pattenden tried to lob the Bath keeper but it was easy for him.

Chebby fired a left-footer off target before the ball was turned out for another City corner. Clarke came on for Dunn with five minutes to go and Munt replaced Bridle.

It looked like Richards had handled outside the penalty area as we entered six minutes of additional time. And Chi should have been 3-1 up but Moore somehow missed with practically the last kick.