Dover Athletic (0) 0 Bath City (0) 0 – Saturday 4 March 2023 – Vanarama National League South – Crabble Athletic Ground
Match Reoprt by Mark Stillman.
Max Harris’ stunning second half save helped earn an eighth clean sheet for City in 2023.
The goalkeeper fingertipped Luke Wanadio’s curler onto the bar in the closest either team came to scoring at Crabble.
Jordan Dyer and Cody Cooke had City’s best openings in the first half of a competitive contest.
Ultimately the two in-form sides cancelled each other out with a late Jack Batten block denying a way through for Dover.
There was little goalmouth action in the opening half hour before the Romans carved out two chances in quick succession.
Dyer’s header from Chris Lines’ corner flew inches wide with Stuart Nelson beaten before Sonny Cox dispossessed Jake Goodman and played the ball into Cody Cooke’s path, but the returning forward skewed wide with Nelson to beat.
Goodman was left unmarked from a Lee Martin corner as his header across goal caused panic before Kieran Parselle bravely cleared.
Harris did enough to block Tyrone Sterling’s header through a packed penalty box as the home crowd tried to urge Dover on in the second half, sensing a third win in a row.
But they were largely left frustrated as the organisation of Jerry Gill’s side blunted them going forward with the back three resolute and Lines outstanding as an extra shield in a midfield which included James Morton filling in out wide for the injured Elliott Frear.
Wanadio finally found space with 11 minutes remaining as he cut inside on the right and saw his goalbound strike tipped onto the bar by Harris.
Goodman put his body in the way to snuff out Dan Hayfield’s attempt from range before Batten superseded it with a sliding block on Brandon Pierrick’s low shot, taking the sting away and leaving Harris with an easy gather.
No further late dramas saw City make the 200-mile journey home satisfied as the point keeps hopes of the play-offs alive.
Att: 710
City’s Line-Up: Harris, Dyer, Batten, Parselle (c), Hayfield, Cooke, Smith (Minzamba 85), Lines, Wilson, Morton, Cox (Spokes 62). Subs not used: Clarke, Ford.
Scorers: City – none; Dover – none
City Bookings: Spokes (90+2)
Officials: R Claussen, B Khimych, D Laing