Weymouth (0) 0 Bath City (2) 3 – Tuesday 11 February 2025 – Vanarama National League South – The Bob Lucas Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Scott Wilson’s double helped Bath City brush aside bottom markers Weymouth.
The striker’s first goals since New Year’s Day, plus a stunning effort from Kieran Parselle, saw the Romans return to winning ways.
It was City’s first away win since Boxing Day and keeps them eight points clear of the bottom four.
Weymouth in contrast remain 12 points from safety, and saw striker Ibrahim Meite stretchered off late, having used all their outfield substitutes.
Darren Way made four changes for City from Saturday’s loss to Hornchurch, including Wilson recalled for the injured Alex Fisher and Jack Batten making his first start under the manager for the stricken Joe Raynes.
Weymouth, who went into the game with one home league win all season, started the brighter.
Euan Pollock laid off for Ben Greenwood on the counter, and his low drive had Harvey Wiles-Richards at full stretch to his left, grateful to see it past his post.
Brandon Goodship fired over from the edge of the box following a short corner before the hosts undid their promising opening midway through the first half.
After Rio Davidson-Phipps rashly brought down Ewan Clark wide of the penalty area, Will Buse punched the delivery away to Jordan Alves, who neatly controlled and laid off to Parselle.
The captain was afforded space to cut inside and deliciously curl into the top left corner from 16 yards.
Weymouth’s players’ heads visibly dropped, and they nearly conceded again two minutes later.
Wilson was flagged offside in the build-up, but referee Joe Woolmer waved play on, claiming the touch through was from a home player.
Luke Russe slammed a shot against the bar and Clark slashed the rebound wide with Weymouth’s defence expecting the whistle to blow.
Having regularly exploited gaps in the hosts’ backline with sharp movement and telling passes in the final third, a more direct route made it 2-0 on 38 minutes.
Parselle’s ball from the back was missed by Corey Jordan, leaving Wilson one-on-one with Buse off his line.
Caught in two minds, the keeper effectively made Wilson’s mind up for him, as he deftly lobbed the stranded former City glovesman from 20 yards to put Way’s charges further in the driving seat.
Wiles-Richards smartly denied Jake McCarthy before the half was out, the midfielder linking up with fellow double centurion Goodship to force a block low to his left by City’s keeper.
Home boss Warren Feeney made two changes at the break but it had little impact as their regular unforced errors made life easy for the visitors, who took full advantage with a third.
Clark got the better of Tom Bearwish down the City left and floated the ball inside to Russe.
The midfielder played low into Wilson inside the penalty area, and a quick spin and shot through the legs of Charlie Rowan flashed past the outstretched Buse, making it nine for the season for Bath’s number nine.
Buse claimed Clark’s effort from distance as City began to control proceedings against a side bereft of confidence.
The Terras’ evening went from bad to worse when substitute Meite collapsed in agony on the edge of the box under no pressure, and after a near 10-minute delay he was carried off.
With only goalkeeper Lloyd Thomas remaining on the bench, Weymouth opted to finish with 10 men.
City saw out 17 additional minutes with consummate ease to wrap up a third away win this term and leave a beleaguered Weymouth looking certain for the drop.
Att: 518
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Greenslade, Batten (Frear 77), Parselle (c), Wilson (Ash 90+9), Clark (Nwabueze 77), Tillson, Russe, Alves (Sweeten 90), Tomlinson, Beardmore. Sub not used: Horsell.
Scorers: Parselle (22), Wilson (38, 58); Weymouth – none
City Bookings: none
Officials: J Woolmer, B Williamson, J Kerten, T Farr (4th)