Bath City (0) 0 Enfield Town (0) 1 – Saturday 21 September 2024 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Billy Leonard was the hero for Enfield Town as they completed a smash and grab success at Twerton Park.
The midfielder headed home in the second half to punish Bath City, who didn’t make the most of their possession.
It consigned the Romans to back-to-back defeats, while the Towners ended a run of seven successive losses in all competitions.
Gavin MacPherson’s side also claimed a first clean sheet and away win since promotion in May.
City received a boost ahead of the game with Scott Wilson declared fit after nearly a month out.
He nearly had a dream return to the side. Inside four minutes, the forward was picked out by Elliott Frear’s low cross and he easily converted from close range, but an offside flag cut short celebrations.
The dominance continued. Jack Batten’s header was deflected onto the bar and Frear’s drive brushed the side-netting after he cut inside from the right, staying on his feet despite a slight shove from Mickey Parcell.
Dan Greenslade’s strong run and shot was spilled by Rhys Forster with nobody able to tap in the rebound towards the conclusion of a first half where City had control, with Josey Casa-Grande seldom troubled by the visitors who looked shot of confidence following a chastening start to the season.
Ewan Clark was denied by the face of the onrushing Forster as City continued with the same intensity after the break, but were hit by a sucker punch just past the hour.
Dylan Adjei-Hersey’s storming pace and cross from the byline was neatly nodded home by the well-placed Leonard from six yards, much to the delight of a decent following from the visitors.
Their joy would have been mixed with caution, aware that their side had already lost nine points from winning positions on the road this term.
They nearly conceded two minutes after the opener with Latrell Humphrey-Ewers’ dipping effort flicked over by Forster.
Aside from that, Town played with more freedom with the City fans growing restless. Harley Mills’ daisy-cutter flew inches wide and Lennon Peake blazed over, who grew in confidence.
They benefitted from City being too ponderous in attack, lacking a penetration to carve a defence apart that had conceded an average of over two a game before heading to Somerset.
Luke Russe, making his first league start for just over six months, couldn’t connect with Wilson’s hanging cross and the holding midfielder’s volley was charged down from Carl Mensah, whose excellent performance at the back warranted a clean sheet.
By added time, Town had seven registered defenders on the pitch in desperation to see the game out.
It worked as City failed to score at Twerton for the first time since March.
Att: 1479
City’s Line-Up: Casa-Grande, Greenslade, Batten, Parselle (c), Wanjau-Smith (Phillips 57), Humphrey-Ewers, Wilson, Clark, Frear (Alves 78), Tillson, Russe (Fisher 90+2). Subs not used: Sardo, Sweeten.
Scorers: City – none; Enfield – Leonard (58)
City Bookings: Greenslade (62)
Officials: H Blair, B Williamson, S Hamilton, M Terry (4th)