Worthing (0) 2 Bath City (0) 1 – Tuesday 4 March 2025 – Vanarama National League South – Woodside Road
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Danny Cashman netted his fifth in three home games against Bath City to snatch three points for Worthing.
The attacking midfielder forced home from close range with City players still protesting for a penalty at the other end, combined with believing Harvey Wiles-Richards was fouled.
Jack Spong had given Worthing the lead just after half-time, with Kieran Parselle cancelling it out seven minutes before Cashman’s winner.
City also lost Ewan Clark to a knee injury in the first half following a robust challenge from Sam Packham.
Clark had the game’s first effort on target, shooting low from the edge of the box forcing Lucas Covolan into a full-length parry to his right.
Liam Nash lashed wide and Spong’s free-kick hit the side netting as Worthing reacted well.
Darren Way was forced into a change midway through the half when Clark’s run down the left was halted by Packham, forcing his withdrawal with Elliott Frear in his place.
While the substitution wasn’t planned to reignite the Romans, they upped the tempo. Mitch Beardmore’s driving run saw him do well to create space but his wayward effort from 25 yards summed up City’s issues in front of goal this season – a lack of quality in the final third from the division’s joint lowest scorers.
Jordan Alves’ stinging free-kick was well tipped over by Covolan as the sides went in level at the break.
A positive first half from City was swiftly forgotten as they conceded 73 seconds after the restart.
Ollie Tomlinson’s clearance was returned by Glen Rea to Cashman on the edge of the penalty area.
He was initially dispossessed, but Nicky Wheeler picked up the loose ball, squared it to Spong whose low drive from 20 yards fizzed past the unsighted Wiles-Richards into the bottom right corner.
The City keeper denied the useful Temi Babalola from Cashman’s through ball before Way looked to his bench, introducing Alex Fisher and Scott Wilson for Alves and Beardmore to freshen up the Romans’ attack.
Instead it was the Rebels’ front line which caused City issues as they had a few near escapes just past the hour.
Cashman skipped along the byline before being thwarted by Wiles-Richards at his near post.
Spong’s follow-up was blocked by the well-placed Parselle, but the move was kept alive by the same Worthing midfielder, forcing an acrobatic parry by the City stopper with an offside flag ending the persistent pressure.
Wilson was agonisingly close to a third goal in three league games at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium. After linking up with Luke Russe and Brad Ash on the edge of the box, the substitute’s rasping drive was superbly tipped behind by Covolan for a corner.
Covolan went from hero to zero as his uncertainty led to an equaliser. From the resulting set-piece, Frear’s delivery towards the six yard box saw the keeper hesitate through a crowd of bodies and Parselle headed home from five yards to notch his fourth of the season.
The game was turned on its head on 79 minutes.
Worthing played themselves into trouble in their own penalty area which resulted in Sam Beard forced into a last ditch challenge on Fisher, who appealed he was caught.
Referee Benjamin McDonald wasn’t interested, and moments later had another call at the other end.
Wheeler’s testing cross was headed into the air from Parselle, inviting Wiles-Richards from his line to try and punch away.
His attempt appeared to be blocked off by Cashman, resulting in the keeper only partially helping it away, and Worthing’s number 10 benefitted, slotting home from close range with City’s defenders appealing for a foul.
Following a mini consultation with assistant referee Tom Farlow, the decision stood and City were incensed.
It was Cashman’s first goal in 13 league games, ending his drought against a side he often excels against.
Substitute Mo Faal saw his stoppage time effort shovelled away by Wiles-Richards as Worthing nearly gave the scoreline a lopsided look.
There was no equaliser for City who can take pride from pushing high-flying Worthing all the way, and will know if they replicate the performance in Saturday’s Somerset Derby at Weston-super-Mare, they should reap rewards.
Att: 1224
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Parselle (c), Clark (Frear 22), Tillson, Russe, Alves (Wilson 61), Tomlinson, Beardsmore (Fisher 61), Ash (Nwabueze 87).
Scorers: City – Parselle (72); Worthing – Spong (47), Cashman (79)
City Bookings: Alves (26), Tomlinson (86)
Officials: B McDonald, T Copping, T Farlow, J McRitchie (4th)
