Bath City (0) 0 Hemel Hempstead Town (0) 0 – Saturday 29 March 2025 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Georgina Morse.
Brad Ash saw a penalty saved as City were forced to settle for a frustrating goalless draw against Hemel Hempstead Town.
Jameson Horlick, on loan from Luton, was equal to the striker’s first half spot-kick to preserve a clean sheet for the Tudors.
Mitch Beardmore’s deflected added time strike hit the post as Darren Way’s side nearly claimed victory.
However a shutout for City was a fourth in a row for them at home in the league, a first since mid-2007.
Hemel started the brighter of the two sides, forcing a couple of early corners and testing City’s backline.
Samuel Adenola saw a low drive blocked in the 12th minute, and Ben Tompkins hit over the bar shortly after.
The Romans’ first real chance came when Ewan Clark burst down the left and whipped a dangerous ball into the box. Joe Raynes managed a flick-on, but there was no one on hand to finish. It sparked a better spell for the hosts, who began to build momentum and forced a pair of corners around the half-hour mark, though Hemel keeper Horlick dealt with them confidently.
Then came the biggest moment of the half. On 35 minutes, Alex Fisher played the ball back inside for Luke Russe, who was tripped in the box by Mathew Achuba and the referee pointed to the spot.
Ash stepped up with a chance to give City the lead, but Horlick produced a fine save low to his right. The rebound fell kindly for Ash again, but the Hemel stopper stopped the second effort too, drawing gasps from the home crowd.
City nearly found a breakthrough just before the break, with Ash delivering a tempting cross for Russe at the near post, but his glancing header flashed just wide. Despite a flurry of late pressure, the first half ended goalless.
Bath City came out for the second half with renewed energy and purpose, immediately putting Hemel Hempstead under pressure. Raynes tested Horlick early with a volley after teeing himself up nicely, but the keeper was equal to it.
The hosts came agonisingly close on 59 minutes when Jordan Alves’ corner saw Kieran Parselle’s header draw a fantastic reaction save from Horlick, and the rebound fell to Raynes, who could only steer it just wide.
Hemel nearly punished City minutes later when Tompkins headed a set-piece inside and Mazeed Ogungbo’s attempt forced a sharp, instinctive save from Harvey Wiles-Richards.
As the game ticked into added time, City almost stole it. Beardmore’s effort was flying well wide before it deflected off Ogungbo and cannoned against the post.
Despite late drama, the deadlock couldn’t be broken, though a point lifted the Romans two places to 16th.
Way’s team will rue some missed chances, while Hemel leave with a hard-fought point thanks largely to their goalkeeper.
Att: 1468
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Parselle (c), Clark (Beardmore 71), Fisher, Tillson, Russe, Alves (Frear 72), Tomlinson, Ash. Subs not used: Batten, E James, Horsell.
Scorers: City – none; Hemel – none
City Bookings: Tomlinson (31), Parselle (75)
Officials: L Smith, J Eyre, N Wormleighton, N Lane (4th)
