Bath City (3) 3 Aveley (0) 0 – Saturday 21 December 2024 – Vanarama National League South – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Three first half goals saw Bath City record their biggest win of 2024 as they eased to success over struggling Aveley.
It was the first time City had won by more than one goal since April and pulled them seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Kieran Parselle, Jordan Alves and Scott Wilson netted inside 43 minutes to inflict further misery on a side with the worst away record in the division.
Wilson’s goal means he’s one from the half-century for the club, and it replicated last year’s Twerton Park victory over Danny Scopes’ team.
These two sides last met on the final day of last season, when Aveley’s 2-0 win clinched them a play-off spot, joining the Romans in the end of season extenders.
How times have changed. Aveley lost in an Eliminator at Maidstone United to end dreams of a third straight promotion, and with key departures in the summer they’ve been a shadow of the side from last term, while City haven’t replicated their performances either.
An early opening goal was largely aided by the visitors’ reckless defending.
Adam Leathers’ pointless barge into Alves gifted City a free-kick out wide. Alves swung it in low and Parselle cleverly applied the finishing touch from a couple of yards.
It was the captain’s first home goal for the club and the quickest City have netted this season.
A heavy pitch put flowing football on the backburner, and Aveley opted for an opposite approach – long throws.
Jason Ring’s missile from the right bounced in the box to Manny Ogunrinde, who turned and shot towards the bottom left corner but Harvey Wiles-Richards was alert enough to parry.
This seemed their only viable option – any attack from open play was stifled from a sturdy back three and the Romans barely lost a 50-50 challenge, epitomised by the second goal.
Leathers tried to carry the ball out of defence but was stopped by a superb Luke Russe interception, nicking the ball 30 yards from goal.
Alves collected it and drove low inside James Holden’s right post to score for a fourth home league game in a row.
Aveley were pickpocketed again just before half-time as City made it three.
Alex Giles’ loose touch in midfield played the ball behind his own centre-backs, and Wilson outran Brooklyn Kabongolo and Nathan Carlyle before his left-footed effort had enough to beat the stretching Holden.
It was the first time since November 2019 that City had held such a healthy half-time lead, when they eased to a 3-0 success over Dartford.
The Millers made two changes at the break, with Ring replaced by Harry Beadle and the hapless Leathers removed for Imran Uche.
Beadle replicated his predecessor’s long throws, keeping City on their toes, and they regularly won the aerial battles.
Their only defensive mishap saw Parselle’s header back to Wiles-Richards fall short, resulting in the goalkeeper colliding with Ogunrinde outside his box. The midfielder fought gainly to shrug it off before eventually succumbing to injury.
Before his withdrawal, City had opportunities to extend their lead. Alves flicked the ball through to Ben Seymour, who beat Holden to the ball but lofted harmlessly wide.
Wilson latched on to a loose touch by Carlyle and unselfishly squared back to Seymour, who span but failed to force home, enabling Kabongolo to scramble away from the line.
Tyrese Owen was lucky to not see red for a senseless barge on Jordan Tillson in the air, flooring the midfielder and earning the Aveley man a yellow.
Russe’s attempt from distance was comfortably gathered by Holden to prevent further damage in the closing stages.
Ultimately, all the destruction was completed in the first half as other results aided the Romans’ gap between themselves and the bottom four, and if they carry on with this goalscoring touch they’ll be looking upwards rather than down.
Att: 1112
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Batten, Parselle (c), Wilson (Frear 82), Tillson (Lawrence 90+4), Russe (Sweeten 87), Alves (Humphrey-Ewers 90), Seymour (Anthony 90+4), Tomlinson.
Scorers: City – Parselle (2), Alves (29), Wilson (43); Aveley – none
City Bookings: none
Officials: M Scholes, J Woolley, M Terry, P Collier (4th)