The new era at Bath City started in similar fashion to the ending of the Darren Way period – with another failure to win an Enterprise National League South game.
Scott Wilson – here on the ball against Horsham – had a shot cleared off the line for Bath City as they slumped 3-0 at home to Hemel Hempstead Town on Tuesday 24th March | Photo © Simon Howe
Way was axed as the Romans’ boss on Sunday 22nd March, having masterminded only one victory in his final 15 league matches at the helm – a run that included nine defeats.
With academy manager James Moon placed in interim charge for the home game against promotion-chasing Hemel Hempstead Town on Tuesday 24th March, relegation-threatened City slumped to a 3-0 reverse.
Bath are now 12 league games without a win, their last success coming against Worthing on Saturday 24th January.
With fellow strugglers Enfield Town beating Dover Athletic 3-1 on Tuesday, City have been pushed down to penultimate spot in the standings, seven points adrift of Farnborough – who occupy the last of the ‘safe’ positions – and now with only one game in hand on the Hampshire outfit.
However, Bath almost took a 33rd-minute lead against Hemel, the on-fire Scott Wilson having a shot cleared off the line.
And Ollie Tomlinson went close seven minutes later, his effort – after Alex Fisher headed on a long throw by Dan Greenslade – forcing a point-blank save from the Hertfordshire club’s keeper Michael Johnson.
The Tudors rode their luck to go in front in the 45th minute of a match watched by a crowd of 1,091, George Williams firing past home custodian Harvey Wiles-Richards.
Isiah Noel-Williams made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half, prodding home from a goalmouth scramble, and Mauro Vilhete headed against a Bath post four minutes later.
It was no surprise when Hemel scored again, Remaye Campbell drilling past replacement gloveman Charlie Binns from long range in the 81st minute.
City fans took to social media after the final whistle, expressing their frustration at the result with comments such as “crushed” and “final nail in the coffin”.
Bath: Harvey Wiles-Richards (Charlie Binns, 55), Dan Greenslade, Ollie Tomlinson (Reubin Sheppard, 46), Kieran Parselle, Jordan Alves, Scott Wilson (Brad Ash, 62), Alex Fisher (Louis Sweeten, 82), Luke Russe (Owen Pritchard, 36), Owen Windsor, Jaiden Putman, Josh Laqeretabua. Unused subs: Moses Alexander-Walker, Donovan Wilson.
Meanwhile, Way was out of work for only 48 hours as on Tuesday afternoon he was announced as a new part of the coaching staff at Bath’s National League South rivals Torquay United.
A statement from the Gulls described the former Yeovil Town manager as “a much-respected coach with a strong track record in promoting young talent”.
Way’s first experience of a game with the Devonians was later on Tuesday, Torquay holding table-topping guests Dorking Wanderers 2-2.
The 46-year-old will remain at Plainmoor until the end of the campaign.
Bath’s Saturday-Tuesday schedule in the league continues over the next week, with a visit to bottom club Eastbourne Borough on Saturday 28th March (3pm) and a trip to high-fliers Maidenhead United on Tuesday 31st March (7.45pm).
Tickets for the match in East Sussex are available here.
And tickets for the fixture in Berkshire can be purchased here.
