Maidstone United (0) 3 Bath City (0) 0 – Saturday 22 February 2025 – Vanarama National League South – Gallagher Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
A second half collapse saw Bath City succumb to their biggest defeat so far under Darren Way.
Goals from Reiss Greenidge, Aaron Blair and Charlie Seaman saw Maidstone United run out comfortable winners in Kent.
Ed James made his debut as a substitute for Jack Batten, but was later substituted himself through injury.
Joe Raynes made his 200th league appearance in the loss as City failed to score for a 10th away game this term in the league, one off the club record set exactly 100 years ago.
Maidstone had only scored one in their previous five, and that appeared evident in the opening half hour as they created little with their direct style bearing no fruit.
City’s first chance arrived on 16 minutes. George Fowler’s header fell short of goalkeeper Alexis Andre Jr, and while Brad Ash did well to intercept, he could only shoot into the side netting from a tight angle.
Luke Russe shot straight at the home stopper and Scott Wilson fired over, both from outside the area.
Blair’s attempted lob effort over Harvey Wiles-Richards managed to clear the towering Genco Stand terrace before the hosts spurned the best opening of the half.
Blair brilliantly turned away from Batten and put it on a place for Arjanit Krasniqi, but the midfielder contrived to side-foot wide from eight yards when he should have scored.
George Elokobi introduced Tom Leahy on debut at the break. The forward, on loan from Millwall, played a part in the opening goal on 55 minutes.
Maidstone broke from a corner and benefitted from a Russe slip, which left Leahy one-on-one. His shot was parried by Wiles-Richards and put behind for a corner.
Ben Brookes’ teasing delivery was glanced in by 6’6 defender Greenidge with ease to break the deadlock.
It was 2-0 four minutes later. A costly slip in the penalty area by Batten saw Blair exploit, touching the ball past the defender before slamming into the roof of the net at Wiles-Richards’ near post for the top scorer’s first goal since New Year’s Day.
It left City with a mountain to climb, having not claimed a point from losing positions away in the league in almost exactly a year.
Brookes almost made it three with a first time effort which rattled off the crossbar while City were restricted to strikes from distance.
Ewan Clark’s effort flew inches over the angle of post and crossbar and Mitch Beardmore’s speculative effort sailed harmlessly off target.
The home side made it safe in added time. With City pushing for a way back, they were left exposed, further hampered by James left injured on the halfway line.
Seaman wriggled his way between two challenges and slid the ball under Wiles-Richards to clinch Maidstone’s biggest win over City at the Gallagher Stadium.
Thankfully results elsewhere went in the Romans’ favour at the bottom, but the defensive lapses will give Darren Way food for thought ahead of Tuesday’s vital match at Salisbury.
Att: 2297
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Batten (E James 66 (Sweeten 90+4)), Parselle (c), Wilson, Clark, Frear (Nwabueze 75), Russe, Tomlinson, Beardmore, Ash. Subs not used: Greenslade, Horsell.
Scorers: City – none; Maidstone – Greenidge (55), Blair (59), Seaman (90+3
City Bookings: Ash (71)
Officials: J Crofts, R Chantrill-Smith, J Gray, G Barker (4th)