Scott Wilson etched his name in Bath City history by becoming the club’s all-time top scorer in the National League South as the Romans staged a remarkable comeback to draw 2-2 with 10-man Hornchurch. Trailing 2-0 at halftime after Henry Sandat’s first-half brace threatened to condemn Darren Way’s side to a fourth consecutive defeat, Bath City showed resilience to salvage a crucial point.
Wilson’s 46th goal in the competition reignited the Romans’ hopes when he tapped in a vital finish after a clever pass from Jack Batten exposed the Hornchurch defense. The momentum shifted dramatically when Sandat, who had been instrumental in putting Hornchurch ahead, was sent off following an altercation, leaving his team a man down.
Josh Laqeretabua, a new loan signing from Charlton, faced a challenging debut. An early error allowed Hornchurch’s Charlie Pegrum to assist Sandat’s opener. Despite this shaky start, Laqeretabua improved as the match progressed, particularly when he was repositioned into midfield.
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Assistant manager Lee Kendall, stepping in for an unwell Darren Way, praised the players’ determination. “Our players are fighting for their lives and are 100% behind everyone at this football club. The second-half fight showed true character,” he commented.
After halftime changes brought Dan Greenslade and Jordan Alves into the fray, Bath City utilized their set-piece prowess. Greenslade’s long throw led to Batten’s first league goal in over seven years, a close-range header that leveled the score at 2-2 and energized the home fans.
Despite applying pressure in the final stages and adding ten minutes of stoppage time, Bath City could not find a winner. Nevertheless, the single point reduced the gap on relegation rivals Farnborough to four points, keeping Bath’s survival hopes alive with 33 league points still available.
Kendall emphasized the long road ahead but remained optimistic. “With games in hand and opportunities to play teams around us, there’s still a long way to go. If we can maintain the fight shown in the second half, it’ll stand us in good stead. We’re all gunning for us to stay up.”