Torquay United (0) 1 Bath City (0) 0 – Saturday 22 March 2025 – Vanarama National League South – Plainmoor
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Cody Cooke came back to haunt Bath City once more as his goal proved enough for Torquay United at Plainmoor.
Having netted at Twerton Park in August, the returning front man bundled home the only goal in a tight tussle in Devon, 15 minutes after coming off the bench.
Ewan Clark made his return from injury, days after extending his contract with the club.
The contest attracted a bumper Non-League Day crowd of 5,202, the biggest City have played in front of since March 2012 at Luton Town in Conference Premier.
With Scott Wilson injured and Brad Ash ineligible to face his parent club, Alex Fisher was employed as a lone striker and he produced the first shot on target on 10 minutes, an effort from distance which James Hamon saved routinely.
Torquay nearly opened the scoring when Will Jenkins Davies’ free-kick from halfway was headed on to former Roman Jordan Dyer, who volleyed across goal but Sam Dreyer was unable to connect.
Another ex-City man, Dan Hayfield, volleyed wide from 25 yards with a slight deflection helping it away.
City’s well-organised defensive display frustrated and nullified the Gulls, and Darren Way’s charges had the first opening after the break.
Superb distribution from Harvey Wiles-Richards set Clark away down the left. His delivery wasn’t fully cleared but Jordan Alves was unable to capitalise, blazing high and wide from the corner of the penalty area.
Cooke was introduced for Jenkins Davies as Torquay moved to three up front and his extra presence proved vital as they broke the deadlock midway through the second half.
Jordan Young’s speculative effort from 25 yards was uncharacteristically fumbled by Wiles-Richards and Cooke was on hand to force home despite Ollie Tomlinson’s desperate attempts on the line.
Like at Twerton, Cooke showed little emotion in scoring out of respect of his former club. The front man kept up his impressive record of netting against past employers, having scored three in five matches during his spell at Twerton against Weymouth and Truro.
A stunning save from Wiles-Richards kept it at 1-0. Jay Foulston’s ball from the left was met on the volley by Offrande Zanzala at the near post, but the City keeper reacted exceptionally to claw away.
Elliott Frear, employed by Torquay’s rivals Exeter City, replaced Dan Greenslade late as City sought a leveller.
His dinked cross from the left was met by the rising Fisher but he nodded wide from a crowded box.
An equaliser didn’t arrive as the hosts claimed a third successive 1-0 home win over the Romans in National League South, consigning City to just a second defeat in seven games.
They remain a healthy 11 points clear of the bottom four while Torquay, fifth, are just three points away from leaders Worthing in a remarkably tight title race.
Att: 5202 (259 away fans)
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade (Frear 88), Parselle (c), Clark (Nwabueze 83), Fisher, Tillson, Russe, Alves (Batten 62), Tomlinson, Beardmore. Subs not used: Sweeten, Horsell.
Scorers: City – none; Torquay – Cooke (67)
City Bookings: Russe (89)
Officials: B Robinson, J Welsh, S Mitchem, C Scriven (4th)
