Bath City delivered a strong performance to overcome Chippenham Town in the A4 Derby, with Donovan Wilson and Scott Wilson each finding the back of the net. This victory marked a positive moment for the Romans in a week that also saw the club’s sale to new owners officially completed.
From the outset, Bath City dominated the match, controlling play and posing a constant threat to their opponents. Chippenham, who had been unbeaten in their previous three matches, struggled to respond and were largely restricted to defensive efforts, with goalkeeper Jack Witchard making several key saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
Early attempts from the visitors saw Joel Odei-Larbi and Ollie Chamberlain fire efforts over the bar within the first two minutes. However, it was Bath City who struck first; on 10 minutes, Donovan Wilson capitalised on a long ball from goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards. Under pressure from Wilson, Chippenham defender Alex Kieh failed to clear effectively, allowing Wilson to maneuver past Witchard and score from close range, marking his first goal of the season following injury.
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Bath City continued to pressure their opponents, with Harrison Minturn making a crucial block to deny a goal-bound strike from Felix Miles. Witchard again showed his quality with a superb save to prevent a second Bath goal, tipping a powerful shot from Harry Parsons past the post after a neat one-two with Wilson.
Just after the half-hour mark, Bath City doubled their lead through Scott Wilson. Jordan Tillson’s precise crossfield pass found Joe Raynes, who celebrated his 250th league appearance. Raynes skilfully evaded defenders before delivering a cross to Scott Wilson, who finished confidently from close range. This goal added to his impressive record in the A4 Derby and highlighted a unique family connection on the pitch, with cousins contributing both goals and assists.
Chippenham’s efforts in the second half were limited, with Witchard again notable for preventing further goals. Substitute involvement from Bath players such as Alex Fisher, Matt Bowman, and Enzio Boldewijn maintained the home side’s dominance, though several attempts failed to add to the tally, often due to strong goalkeeping or missed chances.
Remarkably, the derby concluded without any cautions, reflecting a fiercely contested but disciplined encounter. The win marks a welcome return to form for Bath City ahead of a forthcoming ten-day break from league fixtures.
Head coach Scott Bartlett commented: “After a difficult week with a lot of soul searching, it’s nice to get a reward in the end. Everyone did their job and a little bit more. We went back to basics in training and there was real focus and intensity. Donovan Wilson’s performance was outstanding, showing he is an excellent player, and it’s great to have him fit for the season ahead. Overall, there’s a real togetherness here, and it’s been a brilliant week for the club on and off the pitch.”
Looking ahead, Bath City will face divisional rivals Plymouth Parkway in the FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round at Bolitho Park on Saturday 26 September, with kick-off at 3pm.