Bath City (1) 1 Hampton & Richmond Borough (0) 0 – Monday 26 August 2024 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
A goalkeeping masterclass from Harvey Wiles-Richards proved vital as Bath City overcame a handy Hampton & Richmond Borough side.
The stopper was also involved in the winning goal with his distribution leading to a penalty, converted by Scott Wilson.
Wilson later hobbled off with a knee injury, adding to City’s injury woes.
But they were boosted by the return of Dan Greenslade for his first appearance this season, and he managed a full game in a further positive to a cheery Bank Holiday weekend for the Romans.
Hampton, lifted by their first win this campaign two days previous, started strongly. Archy Taylor’s hanging cross was flapped away by Wiles-Richards with Jake Gray unable to punish him with the follow-up.
Alex Wall could have had a hat-trick inside 20 minutes for the visitors. The Beavers’ matchwinner from Saturday was put through by James Roberts and was initially thwarted by Wiles-Richards in trying to round him, before wastefully placing past the post with two players on the line.
Just after Ewan Clark had flashed wide for City, Wall found himself one-on-one when Roberts intelligently dummied Alfie Williams’ pass, but the striker shot early and dragged off target.
Kristian Campbell’s fierce strike across goal was batted away from Wiles-Richards before the keeper made an even better save on 20 minutes.
Williams’ delightful cross was perfect for Wall, whose initial touch was good but in trying to poke the ball past Wiles-Richards, he was denied by the spreading goalkeeper who took the sting away with an outstretched right glove.
City changed their shape to a back four and it proved a wise move, denying the visitors another clear chance for the remainder of the half.
Having regrouped, they took the lead on 28 minutes. Wiles-Richards’ ball out to the left was magnificently brought down by Sol Wanjau-Smith near the touchline. He dashed into the penalty area and was unceremoniously wiped out by Jerry Wiltshire, resulting in a simple decision for referee Neil Pratt.
Wilson had missed his previous penalty against Coalville Town in January, but made no mistake this time, calmly rolling the ball into the bottom left corner with goalkeeper Ted Curd diving the wrong way.
Wanjau-Smith nearly had a second assist just after the break. His teasing ball to the back post was met by Clark, whose downward header was scrambled away by Curd.
Greenslade, impressive on his return, saw his long-ranger well parried by the Hampton number one.
Wiles-Richards was called into action, keeping out Williams’ low fizzer with a good save to his left, and from the resulting corner Josh Keeya’s shot was deflected back to Gray, who side-footed against the outside of the post from 10 yards.
Keeya hammered Campbell’s pull-back off target when well placed while at the other end Latrell Humphrey-Ewers also just missed out on a first goal for the club, placing wide from 25 yards.
Wilson was forced off in the closing stages with an innocuous knee injury, with a half-fit Alex Fisher on in his place.
The final opening of a pulsating encounter arrived for the visitors in the 88th minute when substitute Jaden Brissett made room for himself before his left-footer was guided inches off target with Wiles-Richards at full-stretch.
The goalkeeper was rightfully heavily congratulated at full-time as his second clean sheet of the weekend made it a well-earned four points from two games, and a third straight win over the deflated Beavers.
Att: 1193
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Greenslade, Grimes, Batten, Parselle (c), Wanjau-Smith, Humphrey-Ewers, Wilson (Fisher 79), Clark, Tillson, Davies (Sweeten 68). Subs not used: Sardo, Morgan.
Scorers: City – Wilson (pen 29); Hampton – none
City Bookings: Grimes (20), Parselle (64), Humphrey-Ewers (77)
Officials: N Pratt, D Frizzell, L McFarlane, P Barber (4th)