Bath City (1) 1 Port Val (0) 0 – Saturday 20 July 2024 – Pre-Season Friendly – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Scott Wilson’s early goal saw Bath City overcome Port Vale in a competitive pre-season friendly.
Jerry Gill’s side were good value for the win against League Two opposition, but suffered a blow in losing new signing Jordan Tillson to injury.
Wilson netted inside five minutes. Joe Raynes won the ball from Rowan Curtis and linked up with Ewan Clark down the right.
Clark’s incisive ball down the wing saw Wilson give chase, forcing Connor Ripley to dash off his line.
In a moment of embarrassment for the visiting keeper, he slipped on the damp surface allowing Wilson to roll home from the corner of the penalty area before any defenders could cover.
Tillson hobbled off on 21 minutes with a hip injury before Wilson flashed just over at the near post from Raynes’ delivery.
Ben Garrity lashed wide from the edge of the box from Lorent Tolaj’s lay-off for Vale and one of their trialists found the side-netting in an entertaining first half where City defended well, Jack Batten slotting in comfortably in his first outing of the summer.
Vale lost full-back Sam Hart to injury in first half stoppage time after an initial collision with Batten, to compound a forgettable first half for them.
They enjoyed more possession in the early stages after the break. Curtis’ teasing low ball just missed a trialist at the far post and 17-year-old Baylee Dipepa blazed off target from Mitch Clark’s ball through.
The impressive Latrell Humphrey-Ewers volleyed just off target on 57 minutes when Ewan Clark’s cross was headed out to him.
Away boss Darren Moore, listed as an ambitious 50/1 to be the next England manager, made nine changes on the hour, meaning only goalkeeper Ripley completed the 90 minutes for the Valiants.
Harvey Wiles-Richards did well to tip Jack Shorrock’s arrowed effort behind before Jayden Stockley nodded over at the near post.
Jordan Alves, who replaced Tillson in the first half, could have sealed victory with five minutes remaining. Having received the ball from a trialist on the counter, Alves attempted to curl the ball into the bottom left corner, but Ripley made up for his error on the goal by confidently batting behind.
Vale seldom looked like equalising as City’s organised performance earned them a first clean sheet and win of the summer, in their final outing against league opposition.
Att: 542
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes (Morgan 72), Greenslade (Triallist D 72), Batten, Parselle (c) (Grimes 60), Humphrey-Ewers, Clark (Triallist C 66), Frear, Triallist A, Tillson (Triallist B 21), Wilson (Sweeten 60).
Scorers: City – Wilson (5); Port Vale – none
City Bookings: none
Officials: S Ouchene, J Bromham, A Parslow