Bath City (0) 0 Worthing (0) 2 – Tuesday 29 October 2024 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Late goals from Joe Cook and Harrison Smith saw Worthing overcome past Bath City.
Cook helped in Danny Cashman’s free-kick with 10 minutes remaining before Smith’s late finish rubber-stamped the win for the visitors.
While the scoreline flattered the visitors, the Romans’ ongoing issues in front of goal cost them.
It was the sixth time they’d failed to score this season and despite attacker Josh Phillips making his debut as a substitute, they didn’t trouble Chris Haigh enough.
City started well, forcing errors from the visitors early and preventing them dictating play.
The issue was failing to take advantage. Nick Grimes robbed Cashman high up the field but rifled well over from 30 yards.
Dan Greenslade wastefully scuffed Jordan Tillson’s low corner before Scott Wilson’s snap shot from the edge of the box forced Haigh into a smart save.
Worthing came closest to breaking the deadlock just past the half hour when Cashman intercepted Latrell Humphrey-Ewers, set Mo Faal away and the big forward struck the inside of the box shooting across goal.
The second half started scrappily with four yellows in six minutes as City enjoyed more possession but lacked fluency.
Wilson arrived late at the near post but fired Joe Raynes’ ball wide before the latter forced a decent save from Haigh, turning well inside the box before his left-footer was well held by the away glovesman,
Faal had Worthing’s first opening of the second half, trying to deliberately curl into the corner with a shot which Wiles-Richards spilled, before Jack Batten beat Tommy Willard to the rebound.
Phillips was introduced for Wilson having arrived on loan from Luton, but his Romans bow didn’t get off to an ideal start as the visitors took an 80th minute lead.
Cashman’s well-flighted free-kick to the back post bounced in the box and Joe Cook bundled in his first goal for the Rebels, helping the ball in having been left unmarked.
Greenslade’s free-kick was headed wide by Raynes as City tried in vain for a leveller, throwing on Billy Phillips for his first appearance in a month in place of defensive midfielder Humphrey-Ewers.
Despite the attacking options, it didn’t click for City in the final third as their decision making let them down, and they were made to pay further when Worthing added a second four minutes into time added on.
Substitute Smith picked up a loose ball in the box and comfortably dispatched from 15 yards, bending around an unsighted Wiles-Richards, sealing successive wins for the Rebels ahead of an FA Cup 1st Round meeting with Morecambe on Saturday.
Bath City will have the weekend off with planned visitors Maidstone United still in the cup themselves.
While the performance was far improved from the loss at St Albans, back-to-back defeats for the Romans keeps them in 20th ahead of a testing November where they face four sides in the top half.
Att: 1028
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Grimes, Batten, Parselle (c), Wanjau-Smith, Humphrey-Ewers (B Phillips 84), Wilson (J Phillips 69), Tillson, Russe. Subs not used: Sardo, Fisher, James.
Scorers: City – none; Worthing – Cook (80), Harrison-Smith (90+4)
City Bookings: Batten (55), Greenslade (59), Wanjau-Smith (74), Grimes (90+4)
Officials: H Blair, T Green, N Templey, J Woolley (4th)