International quality football looked like being the difference between the two sides in this entertaining first-leg tie as Jason St Juste starred for North Ferriby United.
It might sound strange for a team known as The Villagers to have a St Kitts and Nevis midfielder in their ranks, but the 29-year-old Leeds-born left winger was the star of the show.
Bath City 2-2 North Ferriby
The FA Trophy
Semi-Final first-leg
Saturday 21 February
But after helping the visitors take a two-goal lead it was Bath who staged a sensational comeback and very nearly won this thrilling first leg match.
It was St Juste's excellent first half work and cross which forced Danny Ball to turn the ball into his own net and give the visitors a deserved half-time lead.
And he was even more impressive after the break when he showed great skill and composure to go past a defender and roll a shot under keeper Jason Mellor for the Conference North Side's second goal.
But Conference South side Bath refused to give up and striker Dave Pratt pulled them back into the match when he scored from the penalty spot on 61 minutes. Defender Mark Grey was perhaps harshly judged to have fouled Pratt, who then picked himself up to make it 2-1.
Goalmouth action at Twerton Park (Photo: Simon Howe)
St Juste then went close to getting a North Ferriby third before goal machine Nick McCootie, who scored four goals in midweek, managed to grab an equaliser in the 85th minute.
It made for a tense close to a cracking second half and sets things up for thrilling second-leg next Saturday with a place at Wembley definitely up for grabs now for both sides.
