Bath City’s relegation worries deepened after a tough 4-1 defeat away to Torquay United. Former Bath manager Darren Way, now part of the Torquay coaching staff, witnessed his side dominate thanks to a stunning hat-trick by Dylan Morgan.
Despite an early equalizer from Jordan Alves, Bath City were largely outplayed throughout the game. The result leaves them 10 points from safety with only 12 matches remaining—relegation can become certain this weekend if they fail to beat Chesham United and Farnborough secure a win against Dover.
Bath’s starting lineup featured a late change with Will Jenkins Davies making his return after 16 games out, only to be substituted within five minutes due to injury.
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Torquay took the lead mid-first half when Will Tizzard set up Evans, whose shot deflected past Bath’s goalkeeper Charlie Binns. Bath briefly rallied when Alves capitalized on a poor back pass to score, leveling the game at 1-1. However, it was their final flourish as Josh Laqeretabua’s attempt was blocked, and Torquay quickly regained control.
Morgan’s free-kick, a subsequent corner, and various well-executed plays helped Torquay extend the lead. Morgan’s precise shot from the corner threw Bath’s defense into disarray. The Zimbabwean forward then scored twice more in the second half, completing his hat-trick and becoming the first player to net three goals against Bath City since 2017.
Bath’s defense struggled against Torquay’s attacking pressure, with substitute Deon Moore contributing to the buildup of the fourth goal. Despite occasional opportunities, Bath couldn’t find a foothold in the game. A late chance for Sheppard was wasted as fatigue and defensive resilience from Torquay prevented any comeback.
With Farnborough’s recent victory, Bath City face an uphill battle to avoid relegation. Manager Scott Bartlett acknowledged the challenges, citing injuries and squad depth issues: “Even with a full squad, I’m not sure we would have had enough today. The second half showed their quality and exposed our fatigue.”
He praised his players’ effort but emphasized the need for added quality and resilience to finish the season strong. Bath City’s fate now hangs by a thread as they prepare for vital upcoming fixtures.