Bath City (1) 1 Farnborough (0) 0 – Wednesday 1 January 2025 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Scott Wilson’s fourth goal in three games earned Bath City a winning start to 2025.
The striker’s stunning first half finish sealed a third straight win, with Darren Way becoming the first City manager to win his first two league games in charge since John Relish in 2005.
Way’s side stood firm for a third straight clean sheet, as Farnborough failed to score for a fourth successive National League South game for the first time.
The win moves the Romans 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
City were unchanged for the first time this season against a Boro’ side without manager Spencer Day in the dugout, as illness kept the long-serving boss at home.
His deputies, Neil and Steve Baker, would have been encouraged by their start.
Ricky Holmes’ half volley from Ollie Robinson’s initial long throw bounced just wide and Holmes’ weaving run between Kieran Parselle and Ollie Tomlinson concluded with an arrowing shot across the face of goal.
Edon Pruti, on target in this fixture last year, saw his header palmed behind by Harvey Wiles-Richards before City stung the visitors with a 25th minute opener.
Brad Ash cushioned the ball to Luke Russe who cleverly threaded behind to Wilson down the right.
While the angle was against the front man, he exquisitely fired into the top corner via the outside of his foot to give Jack Turner no chance.
Jordan Tillson’s superb block from Millar Matthews-Lewis’ goalbound shot kept the lead intact before the goal frame came to City’s rescue on 42 minutes.
Jordan Alves’ awry clearance fell straight to Aaron Kuhl, and his curler from 22 yards thudded off the post before being cleared.
Farnborough were dealt a blow at half-time when Holmes succumbed to injury and failed to re-appear. The loss of the experienced attacker nullified their threat going forward and the immense work rate of Way’s side left them further frustrated.
Tillson again threw himself in the way of Matthews-Lewis when Hisham Kasimu neatly laid off for his strike partner.
Wiles-Richards’ wayward clearance was intercepted by Matthews-Lewis, who combined with Joe Haigh and Kasimu, concluding with the latter tamely rolling straight at the relieved stopper.
The goalkeeper made up for it with a stunning save on 86 minutes.
Following sustained pressure, Taylor Clark fed the ball to Matthews-Lewis, whose shot on the turn was expertly tipped around the post by City’s number one, to preserve his 10th clean sheet of the season.
Opposite number Turner nearly gifted the hosts a second deep into added time.
His stray clearance was collected by the impressive Ash, whose fierce strike from 25 yards cannoned off the crossbar with substitute Micah Anthony seeing his follow-up cleared off the line by Kuhl.
Ultimately it didn’t matter as City’s regularly promising start to a calendar year continued – they’ve not lost on New Year’s Day since 2004.
Their determination alone saw them through as their revival continues.
Att: 1360
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Parselle (c), Wilson (Anthony 84), Frear, Tillson, Russe, Alves (Lawrence 90+5), Tomlinson, Ash. Subs not used: Humphrey-Ewers, Sweeten, Diallo.
Scorers: City – Wilson (25); Farnborough – none
City Bookings: Greenslade (11), Tomlinson (45+1), Raynes (56)
Officials: S Swan, A McAnoy, S Mitchem, A Wilson (4th)