RYAN CHARLES was left ruing what might have been after losing his first game as a Bath City player on Saturday afternoon.
The striker joined the Romans from Hemel Hempstead Town last week following a brief spell with the Southern Premier League Premier Division side during which he scored twice in six matches.
The 23-year-old frontman started for the Romans away at Conference South relegation-rivals AFC Hornchurch over the weekend and would have opened the scoring had it not been for a excellent first-half save by Joe Woolley.
Charles, who featured 21 times for Blue Square Bet Premier outfit Newport County earlier this season, failed to capitalise on two further chances in a goalless first period.
Bath were made to pay for not making their first-half dominance count, falling behind to a Martin Tuohy goal on 69 minutes. And although the Romans hit back quickly with an equaliser from Charlie Griffin, Lewis Smith's diving header earned the Urchins all three points ten minutes from time.
Former Rushden & Diamonds and Cambridge United man Charles will be eager to bounce back from his debut defeat when the Romans welcome play-off chasers Chelmsford City to Twerton Park on Saturday.
