Frome Town (0) 0 Bath City (1) 5 – Tuesday 30 July 2024 – Pre-Season Friendly – Badgers Hill
Match Report by Mark Stillman/Simon Howe.
A remarkable cameo appearance by Sol Wanjau-Smith helped earn Bath City a comprehensive win at Frome Town.
The forward scored twice and provided two assists in the final 24 minutes.
Frome had Reece Rusher stretchered off after the break, only 20 minutes after appearing as a substitute.
While he was replaced, City made four changes and changed their shape to match Frome, which was rewarded with Wanjau-Smith (2), Zac Smith and Jordan Alves adding to Scott Wilson’s opener in City’s biggest win of pre-season thus far.
Former Roman James Ollis fired over for Frome in the opening 20 minutes as they made a bright start.
They were hit by a sucker punch when Wilson netted his third of pre-season. After good work by Ewan Clark, the ball rebounded kindly for the City forward to apply a final touch past the helpless Kyle Phillips.
Inspired defending by Matt Goulding prevented Clark from making it 2-0 before Frome nearly found a way back into the game.
Marcus Day’s teasing free-kick was met by the head of Matt Wood, but the upright saved City before Alex Monks’ follow-up missed the target.
Latrell Humphrey-Ewers’ flashed inches wide at the end of an entertaining first half.
Frome made three changes at the break but it didn’t stall their momentum as Day linked up with Joe Budd, concluding in the former finding the side-netting.
A serious looking injury to Rusher, which saw him attended by both sets of physios, understandably dampened Frome’s spirits and they were little match for the Romans once the game restarted.
Substitute Alex Fisher had a goal chalked off for offside but there were no issues with Wanjau-Smith’s finish, as he made it 2-0 four minutes after his arrival.
A slight lapse in the home defence high up the field saw him take full advantage by sprinting clear and calmly placing past Phillips.
Wiles-Richards denied the bright Day in what turned out to be Frome’s last main threat on the City goal.
Wanjau-Smith made it three with 13 minutes left. Humphrey-Ewers picked out Clark on the right and his delivery was met by a fine header from the substitute, who rose highest to plant past Phillips.
Rather than search for a hat-trick, the front man turned provider for City’s final two goals, when he could have been forgiven for going for goal.
His cross on 80 minutes was slid home by Zac Smith, celebrating a goal on the evening his signing was announced.
The scoring was completed with four minutes left. Fisher’s flick-on preceded Wanjau-Smith spinning away from the Town defence before he unselfishly squared to Alves, who tapped home with ease.
It rounded off a clinical display by Jerry Gill’s side ahead of their final pre-season outing, a home meeting with Step 4 Larkhall Athletic on Saturday (ko 3pm).
Att: 365
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards (Sardo 85), Raynes (Grimes 66), Greenslade (Alves 66), Batten, Parselle, Humphrey-Ewers, Clark, Frear (Sweeten 80), Smith, Tillson (Wanjau-Smith 66), Wilson (Fisher 66). Subs not used: Morgan.
Scorers: City – Wilson (21), Wanjau-Smith (70, 77). Smith (80). Alves (86)
City Bookings: none
Referee: Carl Peters