Bath City Football Club grabbed a dramatic late equaliser to ensure they opened their Enterprise National League South campaign with a fine away draw.
Scott Wilson on the attack for Bath at Worthing | Photo © Simon Howe
Substitute Mitch Beardmore headed home in injury-time to give the Romans a 1-1 stalemate at Worthing, who went into the final day of last season in the running for the championship but ended up fourth and were beaten by Maidstone United in the play-offs.
The Rebels’ 29th-minute goal looked to be enough for victory at the Sussex Transport Community Stadium on Saturday 9th August, despite captain Joel Colbran being shown a straight red card for fouling Luke Russe.
Bath boss Darren Way said: “They’re well coached. They know how to win. We knew it was going to be difficult.
“We had to be really brave in our press, which I thought we were, and we were unlucky to be 1-0 down at half-time.
“Overall I’m extremely pleased to come away to Worthing and come back with a point.
Bath fans celebrate at the end of the draw with Worthing | Photo © Simon Howe
“Worthing are full-time now. They’re on the training field probably 50% more than we are – but we finished the stronger team.
“Mitch needed that goal. It will lift his confidence. It was a fantastic well-worked goal. The cross was delivered and it was nice for Mitch to finish that one off.”
Of the 40th-minute sending-off, Way said: “I was standing right next to the tackle. It was a sending-off.
“If it was one of my players, it was one of those you have to accept. He’s lunged into one of our players, his foot was in the air.
“That gave them the opportunity to sit back behind the ball. Probably the only frustration was at times we found it very difficult to break that down.”
In front of a 2,028-strong crowd, Brad Dolaghan pivoted 10 yards out and shot past City keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards to hand Worthing the lead.
Worthing skipper Joel Cobran is shown the red card by the referee after a foul on Luke Russe | Photo © Simon Howe
Shortly afterwards, Bath’s Joe Raynes saw his 20-yarder parried by home gloveman Seb Stacey, who is with Worthing on a season-long loan from EFL League Two outfit MK Dons.
But it could have been 2-0 early in the second half, Dolaghan shooting wide from a good position after a slip by Jack Batten.
City had a great opportunity to level in the 71st minute, Scott Wilson’s drive charged down by the onrushing Stacey.
But the hosts went agonisingly close in the 75th minute, Joe Cook smashing a header off a post following a corner.
However, with the 90 minutes up, the Romans struck. Will Jenkins-Davies crossed from the right wing and the unmarked Beardmore headed in from close range.
Yet that was not the end of the drama. Wiles-Richards had to be alert to push a Razzaq Coleman De-Graft header onto the bar.
Bath starting XI: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Tomlinson, Batten, Parselle, Jenkins-Davies, Wilson, Clark, Tillson, Russe.
The Romans will kick-off their National League South home programme on Saturday 16th August when they take on Dover Athletic at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park (3pm).
Discounted tickets are available here.
