Bath City (2) 2 Merthyr Town (0) 1 – Saturday 14 September 2024 – FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Early goals from Sol Wanjau-Smith and Elliott Frear paved the way for Bath City’s cup progress against a spirited Merthyr Town.
City were made to sweat in the closing stages when substitute Kobi Preston-Watkins netted soon after coming on with one of his first touches in senior football.
But the injury-hit Romans deservedly held on to progress to the 3rd Qualifying Round for a 13th successive year.
The win earned City £3,375 in prize money, plus healthy gate receipts with the highest attendance for the club at this stage of the competition since 1977.
Merthyr, who lost key midfielder Lee Lucas in the warm-up, recorded the first shot on target through Lewys Twamley in the early stages, but they were otherwise largely on the back foot.
The opening goal arrived on 11 minutes. Jordan Tillson, filling in at right back, played the ball in to Billy Phillips, who linked up with Frear to find Latrell Humphey-Ewers in space.
His ball in saw Wanjau-Smith steal in front of Callum Ryan-Phillips to cutely flick in from 10 yards, though replays suggested it might have hit the defender last.
Dan Greenslade tried his luck from 30 yards but visiting keeper Jaimie Cogman did enough to gather at the second attempt.
He was powerless to prevent a second as the Romans’ tight passing and sharp movement proved too much for the Southern Premier South side.
Tillson’s ball was well brought down by Phillips and his through ball saw Frear dash away from Thomas Handley before casually toe-poking past Cogman.
With just over 18 minutes played, it was the quickest City had established a 2-0 lead in an FA Cup tie since 1993, a 4-0 success over Molesey in round one.
Cole Jarvis wastefully volleyed Handley’s cross over before Kieran Parselle arrived late for Ewan Clark’s corner but couldn’t get enough on the ball to flick home.
Another Clark set-piece after half-time was met by the head of Jack Batten but rose just over Cogman’s crossbar.
Further pressure saw Phillips’ tenacity set Clark away down the right, leaving Merthyr desperately tracking back. His shot across goal was well batted behind by Cogman.
Josey Casa-Grande had largely been untroubled until then, but he was called upon just past the hour and proved his concentration levels hadn’t dipped.
Matthew Harris’ through ball was cleverly dummied by substitute Frazer Thomas to leave Jarvis through on goal. He hesitated and saw his shot partially blocked by Casa-Grande, with Parselle miraculously clearing off the line before Kane Simpson could tap in.
The City keeper easily gathered Twamley’s effort from a short corner as the Martyrs enjoyed their best spell of the game.
Luke Russe, making his first start for just over six months, was replaced by Louis Sweeten, who at the age of 17 and six days was the second oldest player on the bench for Gill.
Jordan Alves, the most senior substitute, came on for the impressive Phillips and shot too close to Cogman as City tried to wrap the game up.
Instead they faced a nervy final few minutes. Preston-Watkins, introduced on 85 minutes for his debut, took under 180 seconds to get off the mark.
Thomas and Twamley combined to tee up the youngster, who shot across Casa-Grande from 10 yards and saw the ball slip through the Welshman’s grasp.
It was Merthyr’s telling chance as a determined effort from the Romans protected the stopper, and ultimately earn a place in the next round.
Att: 1230
City’s Line-Up: Casa-Grande, Greenslade, Batten, Parselle (c), Wanjau-Smith, Humphrey-Ewers, Clark, Frear, Tillson, Russe (Sweeten 69), Phillips (Alves 73). Subs not used: Sardo, Pritchard, Mabika.
Scorers: City – Wamjau-Smith (11), Frear (19); Merthyr – Preston-Watkins (88)
City Bookings: Parselle (71)
Officials: S Read, A Gregory, J Cuthbertson, A Wilson (4th)