Salisbury (1) 1 Bath City (0) 2 – Saturday 28 September 2024 – FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round – The Raymond McEnhill Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Alex Fisher’s added time headed sealed Bath City’s progression in the FA Cup.
The forwarded nodded home his first goal for the club to leave Salisbury deflated in an enthralling FA Cup tie at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium.
Josh Hedges had put the hosts in front at the break before Jordan Tillson levelled just past the hour.
A strong team performance from Jerry Gill’s side eventually got its rewards to earn an extra £5,625 and a place in the 4th Qualifying Round, much to the delight of around 200 travelling fans in Wiltshire.
Fisher had been recalled in place of Sol Wanjau-Smith with Nick Grimes also in for Latrell Humphrey-Ewers, allowing Tillson to return to his preferred midfield role.
Luke Russe warmed David Aziaya’s gloves early on with a pot shot from 25 yards before Scott Wilson flashed wide from a tough angle, forced to shoot with little options in the middle.
Salisbury’s first main attack led to an opener. Following a short corner, Noah Coppin’s fizzing shot from distance was parried by Harvey Wiles-Richards but landed straight to the alert Hedges, who comfortably tucked in the rebound from close range.
In response, Ewan Clark headed over after Fisher cleverly hooked the ball over his own shoulder from the byline.
Kieran Parselle went even closer in the latter stages of the half. A hanging corner from Elliott Frear, formerly of Salisbury, was fumbled by Aziaya and the captain’s acrobatic effort clipped the top of the bar and went behind.
Fisher comfortably nodded Clark’s cross home but an offside flag denied him, and he headed Dan Greenslade’s delivery wide with his view impeded in the box.
Salisbury started the second half positively with a well-worked move which nearly led to a second.
Jaden Perez and Hedges combined to play the onrushing Jordan Thomas through, but the full-back on loan from Yeovil saw his attempted lob blocked by the alert Wiles-Richards.
Hedges wrestled away from Greenslade and his fierce drive was well tipped away by City’s keeper, given another stern test on his return from suspension.
His interventions proved crucial as City levelled in the 63rd minute.
There was a touch of good fortune about it. Frear’s free-kick saw Tom Leggett’s attempted clearance cannon back off teammate Perez, Fisher nodded the ricochet back to Tillson who superbly steered into the bottom corner past Aziaya’s desperate grasp.
The home side introduced Aidan Elliott-Wheeler, permitted to play only half an hour by parent club Oxford United. He burst clear down the left from Hedges’ pass but Wiles-Richards spread himself well to snuff him out.
Fisher’s deft header brushed the top of the net when Clark’s footwork and cross left the Whites defence in a spin and the striker was denied by Aziaya soon after Salisbury gifted possession from a short goal kick.
Tillson curled agonisingly wide from Clark’s lay-off when the merest of touches on the way through would have left Aziaya beaten.
Neither side looked content for a replay which led to a thrilling final 10 minutes of normal time.
Hedges’ ball zipped into the penalty area with substitute Ronan Silva initially foiled before Elliott-Wheeler blasted the loose ball over.
Jack Batten was desperately close to opening his account for the season when Frear’s corner was initially met by his head, before an attempted flick produced an excellent reflex save from Aziaya.
His heroics were surpassed by Wiles-Richards on 88 minutes. Hedges’ cute ball in behind was raced onto by Silva, but the scorer of four goals in the previous round was somehow denied another when the City keeper’s outstretched right arm batted behind for a corner.
Wiles-Richards effectively started the move which led to a dramatic winner.
His booming clearance was loosely headed away by former Romans defender Sido Jombati to Tillson, who carried forward unchallenged.
He found Wanjau-Smith, recently on as a sub, on the left, who initially played against Jombati before crossing to Fisher.
The striker held his run and expertly planted a header home from eight yards to send the City players and supporters into delirium.
Salisbury threw centre-backs Luke Wilkinson and Jombati into attack to try and rescue a draw, but the visitors held firm to reach the 4th Qualifying Round for a third time in fourth time in five years as they look to go a step further for the first time since 2011.
Att: 1312
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Greenslade, Grimes, Batten, Parselle (c), Wilson (Phillips 81), Clark, Frear (Wanjau-Smith 90+1), Fisher, Tillson, Russe (Humphrey-Ewers 56). Subs not used: Sweeten, Mabika, Alves, Casa-Grande.
Scorers: City – Tillson (63), Fisher (90+2); Salisbury – Hedges (18)
City Bookings: Batten (53), Clark (90+4), Tillson (90+7)
Officials: P Eddie, N Whittington, T Copping, R Ablitt