Bath began this Shires Cup game in determined fashion and were soon passing around the home side and dominating the play.

Keeper Balkwill needed to be to be alert to thwart the away side, coming off his line quickly and clearing the danger on two occasions.

As the half went on though Gloucester began to settle and exert some pressure of their own, mainly through the lively Sutherland. The forward chased every ball and just before the half time whistle, one such run resulted in a penalty being awarded after he was brought down by the keeper. Sutherland picked himself up to coolly slot home the spot kick to give the home side the lead.

The second half was more even but the Yellows created the better opportunities. A long pass into the channel by Sallis led to the second goal for Gloucester, Sutherland running onto the ball and delivering a great cross that Weatherley converted.

Balkwill then made two fine stops from long range efforts before Sutherland scored the third for Gloucester, chasing another seemingly lost cause and pressuring the keeper who promptly dropped the ball, allowing the striker to net from the edge of the area.

Slack play from the home side allowed Kirk to reduce the arrears and buoyed by the goal Bath pressed hard and were rewarded with a second from Kiely with six minutes remaining after the hosts failed to clear.

Despite Bath's late rally, the Yellows held out to win a hard-fought tie to book a trip to Wycombe or St Albans in round two.

Gloucester B: Balkwill, Pinkney, Collins, Elliott, Williams, Weatherley, Mason, Butcher, Sutherland. Subs: Sallis, Knight.