In a thrilling National League South encounter at a rain-soaked Beveree Stadium, Bath City clinched a 2-1 victory over Hampton & Richmond Borough thanks to Jordan Tillson’s extraordinary goal deep into stoppage time.
The match began cautiously, with both teams adjusting to the challenging weather conditions. An early header from a Bath corner nearly found the top corner, striking both the post and crossbar, yet clear chances remained scarce in the opening half. As the game progressed, Bath’s attacking threat increased, exemplified by Joe Raynes’ close effort in the 34th minute that narrowly missed.
The end of the first half saw crucial defensive actions from Bath, including Kieran Parselle’s clearance off the line and goalkeeper Charlie Binns’ acrobatic save denying Kai Woollard-Innocent.
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Bath broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half when Hampton’s goalkeeper Matthew Rowley failed to control Will Jenkins-Davies’ corner, allowing Parselle to head home from close range. Shortly after, Owen Windsor’s surging run ended with a saved low shot, as Bath sought to extend their lead.
Despite Bath’s pressure, Hampton responded in the 82nd minute, equalizing with a spectacular volley from Paul-Lavaly that left Binns no chance. The match intensified as Brad Ash squandered a great opportunity moments later.
Into stoppage time, Hampton threatened to steal all three points, with Binns pulling off two crucial saves to deny Alan Massey. However, Bath’s resilience paid off in the 93rd minute when a free-kick was cleared only as far as Tillson, who unleashed a breathtaking first-time strike into the top corner, securing a memorable win.
Meanwhile, Weston-super-Mare experienced a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home against Dover Athletic, a result that puts their National League South title ambitions under pressure. Dover opened the scoring in the 55th minute from an Alfie Matthews free-kick, deflected in off a Weston defender past Max Harris. Weston responded in the 64th minute when returning striker Scott Wilson calmly finished from close range to level the score.
Weston pushed for a winner with Louis Britton heading a cross from Luke Coulson, only to be ruled offside. The decisive blow came in stoppage time when Dover’s Luca Cocoracchi bundled in a winning goal following a corner, leaving Weston’s hopes deflated.