Bath City and Weston-super-Mare settled for a goalless draw in a tightly contested Somerset Derby at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park. The match saw both teams prioritizing defensive solidity, resulting in no shots on target from either side.
Bath City’s Charlie Binns earned his first league clean sheet, reflecting the team’s improved defensive performance. With Donovan Wilson sidelined due to hamstring tightness, Luke Russe was recalled to the squad. Alex Fisher joined the starting lineup late due to a family matter, while Joe Raynes, normally a full-back, was deployed upfront alongside Owen Windsor owing to limited attacking options.
Weston had more possession early but failed to threaten Binns. Leo Pecover’s ambitious shot flew over the bar within the first ten minutes, and Luke Russe’s volley missed the mark after Dan Greenslade’s long throw was partially cleared. Jaiden Putman’s crucial block from Luke Coulson helped maintain the clean sheet, while former Roman Luke Spokes also missed a chance following a Will Dawes assist.
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In the second half, Bath City controlled possession as Weston’s performance waned, isolating 21-goal striker Louis Britton. The Romans adjusted their attack with Fisher replacing Matt Bowman, allowing Raynes to return to his regular full-back position. Despite a penalty appeal after Windsor went down near the byline, referee Steven Swan awarded only a corner.
Tensions boiled over in the 80th minute when Weston’s substitute George Robesten lashed out at Raynes, earning a red card just 12 minutes after his introduction. Seagulls’ manager Scott Rogers also received a caution, and Binns was booked for time-wasting.
Weston shifted focus to defending the draw, surviving further pressure with minimal threats. Despite a push claim by sub Jordan Alves, no penalty was awarded. A tame header by Britton was Weston’s lone notable chance in the closing stages.
Bath City manager Darren Way expressed disappointment at not securing a win but praised his team’s defensive resilience, especially following the recent loss to Hampton. “We got in the final third enough but weren’t clinical,” Way said, highlighting the solid work of Jaiden Putman in defense.
Way emphasized the importance of maintaining concentration throughout the match to keep a clean sheet, a rarity for the squad in 2026. The team’s composure in such a tightly fought derby marks a positive step forward. Pre-match inspiration came courtesy of former player and assistant manager Jim Rollo, whose motivational talk resonated with the players.
“It was probably the first time since I stopped playing that I wanted to get my boots back on,” Way joked. “Jim talked about what derby days mean and delivered a clear message that definitely helped.”