Bath City (0) 1 Dorking Wanderers (2) 2 – Vanarama Eliminator – Sunday 19 July 2020 – Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman
First half goals for James McShane and Jason Prior keeps up Dorking Wanderers’ hopes of a 12th promotion since formation, while Bath City fell at the eliminator stage for the second year running.
Ryan Brunt’s 80th minute penalty gave the Romans some hope but after Andy Watkins blazed wide in the last seconds they knew their race was run.
McShane’s opener arrived on six minutes. Nick Wheeler’s free-kick was poorly dealt with by the Bath defence to allow him to sweep home from 10 yards.
Tom Smith thundered a shot against the crossbar from 20 yards as Bath looked for a leveller in an entertaining spectacle.
Prior extended Wanderers’ lead four minutes before the break when Niall McManus’ terrific cross was met by an equally high-quality header, the forward nodding in off the bar past Ryan Clarke.
It knocked the stuffing out of the hosts who struggled to make inroads against a superb defensive rearguard from the Surrey outfit.
They were finally breached with 10 minutes left when Ben Dyett handled Brunt’s goalbound shot in the box, and the front man slotted home the resulting spot-kick.
Watkins blasted Brunt’s knockdown wide when well-placed as the visitors held on through a late onslaught.
Dorking manager Marc White was red-carded from the bench in the dying stages but was soon met by his jubilant players as Dorking head to Weymouth full of confidence.
City’s Line-Up: Clarke (c), Martin, Riley-Lowe (Brunt HT), T Smith, Bowry, Mann (Watkins 58), Ball, Pearson (Stearn 89), Richards, Hartridge, James (Z Smith 71). Subs not used: Artus, Wiles-Richards.
Scorers: City – Brunt (pen 80); Dorking: McShane (6), Prior (41)
City Bookings: Richards (56)
Officials: S Gill, A Cresswell, L Scott