Welling United (1) 1 Bath City (0) 0 – Saturday 14 December 2024 – Vanarama National League South – Park View Road
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Josh Redfearn’s first half strike extended Bath City’s woes away from home.
Despite a much-improved performance, the Romans paid for one lapse and a 10th failure to net this term saw them return empty-handed.
Rhys Lovett somehow kept out Luke Russe and Jordan Alves in the first half as City showed far more attacking threat than their past away games in 2024/25.
But their inability to make more of their possession leaves them with a meagre five points and five goals on the road from 10 away fixtures.
Elliott Frear replaced the suspended Kieran Parselle in the only alteration from defeat to Boreham Wood at the end of November, the club’s previous fixture.
The left-wing back, making his first start under Lee Kendall, had the first chance. Alves picked him out on the left but his shot across goal was taken by Lovett at the second attempt.
On 10 minutes, Scott Wilson’s teasing ball from the byline was met by the onrushing Russe who seemed certain to score from a matter of yards, but Lovett got enough of his body in the way and pounced on the loose ball to prevent it crossing the line.
Joe Raynes’ half volley from the edge of the box was well taken by Lovett before City’s good work was undone.
Jack Burchell’s first time clearance from the back was missed by the stretching Batten and Redfearn cushioned the ball on his thigh before expertly looping over the stranded Wiles-Richards from 15 yards.
A fine move nearly led to a leveller. Jordan Tillson and Frear linked up before Alves and Wilson played a one two in the area. Forced wide, Alves’ stinging shot across goal looked certain for the bottom corner by Lovett’s exceptional reactions batted it around for a corner.
It was City’s fourth shot on target inside half an hour – the most they’d produced in a game since the 3-2 loss at St Albans in late-October.
Their final telling chance of the half fell to Wilson. Frear’s corner just missed Ollie Tomlinson in the middle, Dan Greenslade’s ball in was blocked by the legs of Lovett and rebounded awkwardly for Wilson, who nodded wide off-balance.
Frustratingly for the Romans, they didn’t carry as much attacking threat after the break. Welling’s Zain Walker shot too close to Wiles-Richards from 25 yards in a rare sighter for the hosts, but they soaked up pressure well with giant centre-backs Burchell and Dave Winfield seldom troubled aerially, even with the addition of target man Alex Fisher as a substitute.
Alves’ curler from the edge of the box flew just wide.
Batten was sent forward to join the attack in desperation late on but neither he nor Ben Seymour could connect with Fisher’s driven ball across goal in the only significant scare for the Wings after the break.
As a result, it meant a fourth 1-0 between the clubs in the past five fixtures, and one City will be disappointed to be on the wrong end of.
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes (Lawrence 84), Greenslade, Batten (c), Wilson (Anthony 84), Frear (Fisher 71), Tillson, Russe, Alves, Seymour, Tomlinson. Subs not used: Sardo, Pritchard.
Scorers: City – none; Welling – Redfearn (19)
City Bookings: Tomlinson (32)
Officials: H Warner, J Horwood, J Burns, S Finnigan (4th)