Romans stung by injury-time goal as unbeaten record comes to end

Bath City lost their unbeaten record in Pitching In Southern League Premier South when they faced Uxbridge at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday 29th August.

Scott Wilson drills in Bath City’s goal against Uxbridge at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday 29th August | Photo © Simon Howe

The Romans went into the clash with two wins and two draws to their name this season.

And they dominated for around the first hour against the West Londoners, only to concede twice in the closing 18 minutes and fall to a 2-1 defeat.

The match – played in sunshine after heavy rain during the warm-up – showed that City are not going to have an easy ride this term as they look to bounce back to National League South at the first attempt.

It also showed their big shortcoming – they are not turning possession into anywhere near enough goals. They have managed only six in five outings and have a goal-difference of just one.

Bath City celebrate after Scott Wilson, second left, puts them a goal up against Uxbridge, who hit back for a 2-1 victory | Photo © Simon Howe

The euphoria surrounding the proposed takeover of the Romans by the investor group led by Andrew Stallbow getting the green light created a buzz around the stadium – and, during the first half, on the pitch.

Straight into the Bath starting line-up came midfielder Pedro Elawar – until this summer he was known as Pedro Borges – who has joined on a three-month loan deal from Exeter City and played out wide.

The 21-year-old, who appeared for Weston-super-Mare in 2025 when Romans’ boss Scott Bartlett was in charge of the North Somerset club, has turned out in League One for the Grecians.

And he demonstrated that he will be a quality signing for Bath by producing an impressive, energetic display on his debut until running out of steam.

The hosts played down the slope in the first half. And their first opening came in the eighth minute, Ollie Chamberlain firing over from 20 yards.

Uxbridge’s Ollie McCoy shot narrowly wide from 23 yards two minutes later.

New loan signing Pedro Elawar on the ball for Bath City against Uxbridge in Pitching In Southern League Premier South | Photo © Simon Howe

And in the 17th minute, home keeper Harvey Wiles-Richards made a flying save to parry a long-ranger from Troy Perez-Duah, Joe Raynes clearing the danger.

But Bath went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 29th minute. Following a corner by James Morton, who was making his 100th appearance for the Romans across four spells with the club, Kieran Parselle sent in a header. But George Moore cleared off the line.

However, Bath went in front in the 33rd minute. And it was a goal that their grip on possession warranted.

A corner by Morton was flicked on by Parselle for Scott Wilson to drill home from an angle.

Bath supporters sensed the goal would be the first of several by their team that afternoon – but the travellers had other ideas.

Uxbridge captain Sam Deadfield drove wide from long range shortly before the break.

And 13 minutes into the second half, Moore blazed over from 12 yards as the West Drayton-based guests began to boss the game.

Francis Amartey pivoted and shot wide from 18 yards in the 65th minute. But he hit the 72nd-minute equaliser, powering into the box and scoring from an angle 12 yards out.

Bath’s best chance of regaining the advantage came four minutes later, Ollie Tomlinson heading narrowly wide from a Morton corner.

But in the 82nd minute, Uxbridge’s Ciaran Martin set up substitute Liam Prior-Tack who lashed wide from 15 yards.

And Prior-Tack left Bath fans in the crowd of 1,023 stunned when, in injury-time, he grabbed the decider.

Wiles-Richards blocked a snapshot from McCoy, who seized on the loose ball and knocked it across the face of goal to Prior-Tack. And he made no mistake from five yards to send Uxbridge to the top of the table.

Although there is no denying that the side from the capital deserved something from the encounter, a draw would have been the fairest outcome.

The result meant the Romans dropped from fourth spot to ninth in the table, five points adrift of their conquerors.

Bath: Harvey Wiles-Richards, Joe Raynes, Ollie Tomlinson, Kieran Parselle, Enzio Boldewijn (Seweryn Streczen, 64), James Morton, Scott Wilson (Alex Fisher, 64), Pedro Elawar (Matt Bowman, 80), Ollie Chamberlain, Jordan Tillson, Reuben Reid (Harry Parsons, 84). Unused sub: Jack Batten.

The Romans’ next game will be this afternoon – Summer Bank Holiday Monday, 31st August – when they make the short trip to Badgers Hill Stadium to take on Frome Town (3pm).

Tickets are available here.