Super Romans beat full-timers to chalk up first home win

Bath City made a fine performance as they beat full-timers Eastbourne Borough 2-0 at the Cannon Clark Stadium @ Twerton Park to complete back-to-back victories in Enterprise National League South.

Bath City’s Brad Ash, second left, celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the second goal against Eastbourne Borough | Photo © Simon Howe

The success against the East Sussex outfit on Saturday 23rd August was City’s first win at home this season and followed a midweek triumph at Salisbury.

Eastbourne, playing up the slope in the first half, looked dangerous early on.

But the Romans opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Alex Fisher’s effort was parried by Borough keeper Jamie Searle and Will Jenkins Davies pounced to fire home from eight yards to record his second goal in successive games.

City could have made it 2-0 just three minutes later. Following a left-wing corner by Luke Russe, Fisher had a shot charged down – and he put the rebound over the bar.

Will Jenkins Davies, right, is congratulated by his Bath City team-mates after opening the scoring against Eastbourne Borough | Photo © Simon Howe

Searle produced a flying save at the expense of a corner to deny Ollie Tomlinson, who pivoted and tried his luck from 14 yards in the 33rd minute.

The guests responded with Joey Phuti shooting at City gloveman Harvey Wiles-Richards from just to the right of the box and Mo Sagaf driving wide from 19 yards.

But Eastbourne seemed to have a good shout for a penalty in first-half injury-time, Bath defender Dan Greenslade appearing to handle in the box. Referee Steven Swan did not agree.

The Romans doubled their lead in the first minute of the second half. Mitch Beardmore’s shot was deflected to Brad Ash, who banged the ball past Searle from 10 yards.

Bath City, black and white, put the pressure on Eastbourne Borough during the first half at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park | Photo © Simon Howe

Tomlinson headed over from close-range after a corner in the 50th minute.

But Borough had a great chance to get onto the scoresheet six minutes later. Freddie Carter slammed the ball off Wiles-Richards’ legs and Camron Gbadebo put the loose ball wide.

And seconds later, Eastbourne went agonisingly close to netting. Jesurun Uchegbulam outpaced the hosts’ Joe Raynes, motored into the box and tried to chip Wiles-Richards, the ball going narrowly over the bar.

Greenslade, under pressure, was forced to hack the ball for a corner after Victor Akinwale and Uchegbulam fashioned a good opening in the 67th minute.

But the last real chance in front of a crowd of 919 went to City, substitute Ewan Clark’s 80th-minute low 20-yarder held by Searle.

The Romans’ win lifted them to eighth place in the table, only goal-difference keeping them out of the play-off zone. But Eastbourne, who went into the campaign as one of the fancied sides, left the West Country stuck in bottom spot.

Bath boss Darren Way said of the win: “We’ve come up against another team today that are full-time so really pleased with the energy levels and it’s only what the players deserve.

“We got off to a little bit of a slow start but once we scored that [first] goal we settled down and caused them a lot of problems.”

Bath: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Tomlinson, Parselle, Jenkins Davies (Batten, 71), Ash (Clark, 71), Fisher (Wilson, 71), Tillson (Matthews, 86), Beardmore (Sweeten, 90), Russe. Unused sub: Horsell.

With derbies often played on bank holidays, City are out of luck in that respect this summer. On August Bank Holiday Monday (25th August), Way’s men will visit Kent side Ebbsfleet United (3pm) – a round trip of more than 300 miles.