Bath City (1) 2 Slough Town (0) 0 – Tuesday 11 March 2025 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Alex Fisher and Brad Ash were on target as Bath City took a massive step towards survival.
Darren Way’s side now sit 17th and 12 points clear of the drop, moving above opponents Slough Town who suffered a seventh away loss in eight.
A second successive clean sheet, City’s 15th of the season, helped them blunt the highest scoring side in the bottom half.
The Romans are now closer to Saturday’s visitors, 9th placed Tonbridge Angels, than the drop zone.
After a tight first quarter hour, City peppered the Slough goal in quick succession and it led to opener.
Luke Russe slipped the ball to Scott Wilson, whose low shot was parried away by Charlie Horlock down to his left.
City kept the move alive as Jordan Alves’ cross found Wilson at the far post, left in oceans of space.
The striker’s header and follow-up were somehow kept out by Horlock, but he was powerless to prevent the perfectly placed Fisher, who chested home and expertly volleyed home from eight yards.
It was the striker’s first goal for 16 games and the relief was evident as he roared with delight to the Popular Side.
The visitors nearly levelled within 90 seconds. Guy Hollis’ long throw saw a lucky rebound fall to David Ogbonna, but Harvey Wiles-Richards spread himself to thwart him.
Kieran Parselle headed Joe Raynes’ corner over before Russe’s interception at the other end proved vital, nicking the ball away from Jeanmal Prosper in the box after Slough player boss Scott Davies slipped him through.
Wiles-Richards was the first goalkeeper tested after the break.
Johnny Goddard’s ball from the left was headed out to John Gilbert, who took a touch away from Russe before his stinging effort was well palmed away by Wiles-Richards at his near post.
Gilbert was well denied by Wiles-Richards with cousin Joe Raynes also somehow preventing Slavi Spasov a tap-in on the line as the Rebels piled on the pressure.
Their failure to break through proved costly as City added a second with 11 minutes remaining.
Fisher backheeled the ball into the path of Alves, who raced away down the left past Henry Ochieng.
His shot was too hot for Horlock to handle and the rebound was well met by Ash, who slid in to help the ball home from close range.
It clinched three points, gaining revenge for a 3-0 defeat in Berkshire in November, and all but confirms that City can start planning for another season in National League South.
Att: 793
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Parselle (c), Wilson (Batten 70), Fisher (Sweeten 90+2), Tillson, Russe, Alves (Nwabueze 85), Tomlinson, Ash. Subs not used: Frear, Horsell.
Scorers: City – Fisher (17), Ash (79); Slough – none
City Bookings: Tomlinson (69), Parselle (90+4)
Officials: S Ouchene, J Woolley, Z Demetriades, A Wilson (4th)
