Bath City (1) 1 Boreham Wood (1) 2 – Saturday 30 November 2024 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Henry Burridge.
Bath City’s stoppage-time curse struck once again as their gutsy display against Boreham Wood went unrewarded.
Kwesi Appiah got both the visitors’ goals, which sandwiched a free-kick leveller from the in-form City man Jordan Alves.
The winner arrived in the 91st minute – the third time in four games that the Romans conceded in injury time, at a combined cost of four points to their relegation battle.
Boreham Wood dominated the early possession and kept the hosts penned back in their own half. They ultimately went ahead just nine minutes in when Appiah was somehow unchallenged to head in a corner from Tom Whelan.
Further efforts from Whelan and Femi Ilesanmi failed to trouble City stopper Harvey Wiles-Richards
However, Bath stemmed the tide and began to make an impact on proceedings themselves, forcing Boreham Wood to see off a series of dangerous balls into the box from both set-pieces and open play.
Their first shot on goal came when Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore was caught off his line – one of many shaky moments he had on the afternoon – and was almost lobbed by Luke Russe, whose shot bounced in the box and ran away across goal.
Next up for City was Ben Seymour. He jinked his way past a defender but saw a stinging effort well saved by Ashmore.
The Romans would get back on terms right on the half-hour mark as Alves dispatched a free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner for his second goal of the week.
Danny Greenslade was needed to stop Jon Benton getting a strike on goal just before the break, surging across the penalty area to make a block seven yards out.
The quality from both sides dropped off noticeably in the second half.
Boreham Wood got control of the game back for the most part with just a trio of tame efforts from Appiah to note, one header dropping onto the roof of the net and another requiring Wiles-Richards to make a routine save on the bounce.
Again City fought and had their own period of pressure without being able to carve out any true opportunities, though Seymour did attempt a hopeful, turning snapshot from 25 yards that went comfortably wide.
But the visiting side began to push for a winner. They almost had it when Whelan worked some space in the area and drew a spectacular reaction save from Wiles-Richards’ outstretched palm.
Boreham Wood eventually snatched the three points in the first minute of stoppage time.
Substitutes Junior Dixon and Abdul Abdulmalik combined, the latter teeing up Appiah to blast in off the crossbar and steal victory.
Att: 1020
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes (Lawrence 90+3), Greenslade, Batten (Anthony 64), Parselle (c), Wilson, Tillson, Russe (Frear 90+3), Alves, Seymour (Humphrey-Ewers 80), Tomlinson. Sub not used: Sardo.
Scorers: City – Alves (30); Boreham Wood – Appiah (9, 90+1)
City Bookings: Parselle (37), Alves (41)
Officials: P Eddie, C Hubbard, S Ouchene, M Bloor (4th)