Bath City (0) 0 Bristol Rovers (0) 1 – Saturday 13 July 2024 – Pre-Season Friendly – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Chris Martin’s tidy finish saw Bristol Rovers edge past Bath City in front of nearly 2,000 at Twerton Park.
The former Scotland international’s strike decided a well-contested friendly.
Scott Wilson came closest to scoring for City, hitting the post in the second half.
Kieran Parselle hobbled off with a hamstring injury soon after Martin’s goal in the only dampener to an otherwise encouraging afternoon.
Ewan Clark curled a free-kick a yard over for the Romans as they tried to force an early breakthrough.
Luke McCormick had a goal chalked off in the 14th minute for Rovers as they reacted well, cheered on by a huge support returning to Twerton, where they were exiled between 1986-1996.
Bryant Bilongo warmed Harvey Wiles-Richards’ gloves and Jevani Brown’s intelligent chip floated just wide of the City stopper’s post.
Wiles-Richards was tested twice in quick succession by Kamil Conteh and Clinton Mola with 10 minutes of the half remaining.
Conteh’s 20-yarder arrived after Parselle only half cleared Isaac Hutchinson’s cross, before Mola’s near post header from Hutchinson’s corner was equalled by a superb parry by the ex-Bristol City glovesman.
Joel Senior’s gliding run and cross looked perfect for McCormick, but he mistimed his header and glanced harmlessly wide from six yards when he should have scored.
Clark volleyed just off target for City five minutes before the break after Latrell Humphrey-Ewers’ cross deflected off Mola onto his boot.
Brown bent wide immediately after as the sides went into the break goalless.
Matt Taylor, a former player coach for Bath City, changed Rovers’ entire XI at the break which included the introduction of former £8m midfielder Scott Sinclair, the Bathonian lining up in left wing-back.
City’s change of shape saw them take more control of the game and they nearly broke the deadlock on 55 minutes.
Having received the ball from Elliott Frear, Sol Wanjau-Smith’s pinpoint cross was met by the head of Wilson, but he nodded against the post from six yards with debutant Josh Griffiths beaten.
Dan Ellison’s miscontrol in the box saw Clark win the ball back before being denied by Griffiths. The scrambling goalkeeper did enough to deny Wanjau-Smith on the follow-up.
Sinclair’s corner over for the Gas was headed over by Jerry Lawrence before substitute Martin’s only opening resulted in a goal with nine minutes left.
Michael Forbes’ cross from the left was well collected by the experienced front man, who controlled and instantly shot from 14 yards when off balance past Wiles-Richards, leaving him helpless.
Parselle appeared hurt moments before which eventually saw him replaced by a trialist, but he was able to walk off unaided.
Rovers saw out the closing stages for their second win in two.
Att: 1908
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Grimes, Parselle (c) (Player C 85), Wanjau-Smith (Sweeten 63), Humphrey-Ewers, Clark, Frear (Player B 60), Wilson, Player A. Subs not used: Sardo, Player D, Morgan.
Scorers: City – none; Rovers – Martin (81)
City Bookings: none
Officials: S Pearson, D Middleton, J Drew