Shortwood United 0

Bath City 3

SHORTWOOD United were well beaten by Vanarama National League South outfit Bath City.

The Romans opened the scoring after 23 minutes when former Grimsby Town and Cheltenham midfielder Frankie Artus headed home a cross from ex-Forest Green left-back Kevin Nicholson.

The lead was doubled four minutes later when Artus laid the ball off to Jon Davies, who finished from close range.

It was 3-0 to City when David Pratt's header went in off the bar from a Nicholson corner.

Stroud News and Journal:

Joe White on the attack against Kevin Nicholson                  Pic: Brian Rossiter

Shortwood were much better after the break and Bath were fortunate when Adam Price made a good run and fired narrowly wide. Price then had a goal disallowed for offside and James Singh had a shot cleared off the line.

The defence and midfield closed Bath down more efficiently and in the closing stages the closest anyone came to a goal was a flick header from Tim Haddock.

Shortwood start their Evo-Stik Southern and Division South West season at home to Wimborne Town on Saturday, 3pm.

SHORTWOOD: King, Rawlings, Humphreys, Lewis, Parrott, Haddock, Price, Singh, Lee, White Cant, Peare, Meredith, Davis.