Farnborough (1) 2 Bath City (0) 2 – Saturday 4 October 2025 – Enterprise National League South – Saunders Transport Community Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Darren Way claimed referee Jason Porter ‘cost us the game’ as Dom Poleon’s added time penalty earned Farnborough a draw.
Having trailed through Teddy Collis’ early thumper, Bath City looked set for three points following second half goals from Brad Ash and Joe Raynes.
But a contentious spot-kick meant the hosts earned a share of the spoils.
City survived a frantic finale to extend their unbeaten away record this season.
The fortnight break from action was enough time for Jordan Alves to regain fitness and earn a first start of the season, with Dan Greenslade back among the subs which included new backup goalkeeper Charlie Binns.
Farnborough got off to a dream start, netting from their first attack.
Mason Bloomfield collected the ball on the edge of the box and picked out Collis in space to his right.
Having made half a yard of space around Alves, he blasted across Harvey Wiles-Richards inside his right post to give the hosts a third minute lead.
Collis’ tenacity nearly created a second a few minutes later. Having gone to ground in the box under minimal contact from Alves, he stretched out a leg to play it back to Kai Jennings, whose deft chip was comfortably gathered by Wiles-Richards.
The conditions nearly carved an opening for City as Will Jenkins Davies’ corner caught in the wind and swirled towards goal with striker Mason Bloomfield back defending to head away from the goal line.
Toby Bower’s free-kick for Farnborough was met by a tame Louis Lomas header in the closing stages of a rather uneventful half.
Way changed shape for the second 45, switching to a back four having struggled to create openings against a side that had conceded an average of two a game in the league ahead of the contest.
It reaped its rewards.
After Kieran Parselle headed Jenkins Davies’ corner over, another set-piece saw City score their first league goal in three matches.
Jenkins Davies’ short corner found Luke Russe near the corner of the penalty area, and his cross was cleverly re-directed home by the head of Ash, his second goal of the season.
Boro’ responded as Jennings’ goalbound shot was blocked by Jack Batten and Ryan Huke curled inches wide after holding off Ash on the edge of the box.
But it was City who looked the better and they appeared to have snatched all three points on 88 minutes.
Parselle’s cross was helped into the air by Ali Omar, and Ash kept the move alive, backheading when the defender expecting him to see it behind.
Jenkins Davies’ fierce strike from the ball back was blocked by Jennings but ran to Raynes, who cut inside of Huke and bent home on his unfavoured left foot from 18 yards.
It was his first goal since netting at the same venue on Good Friday in a 2-0 win.
This suddenly sparked life into Spencer Day’s team, following an otherwise flat second half display.
Substitute Poleon’s shot at the near post was parried by Wiles-Richards but ran loose to Jack Young just inside the box.
He chopped inside of Mitch Beardmore before throwing himself to the ground from Russe’s intervention, though contact looked minimal.
Referee Jason Porter pointed to the spot and Poleon confidently sent Wiles-Richards the wrong way.
It was his seventh goal in five games against the Romans having excelled against them in the past for Ebbsfleet United, and suddenly the Yellows sensed a first home win over City since Boxing Day 1996.
Poleon should have kept up his outstanding record against City. He skipped past challenges of Parselle and Batten to leave himself one-on-one, but in attempting to round Wiles-Richards he could only shoot against the goalkeeper’s legs.
Bower’s resulting delivery nearly curved straight in as the visitors scrambled clear in an eventful conclusion where both sides hunted for three points.
The draw leaves City seven without a win in all competitions ahead of another enforced break.
Att: 745
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Tomlinson, Batten, Parselle (c), Alves (Beardmore 69), Jenkins Davies, Wilson (Tabor 76), Ash, Tillson, Russe. Subs not used: Greenslade, Binns, Sweeten, Mabika.
Scorers: City – Ash (55), Raynes (88); Farnborough – Collis (3), Poleon (pen 90+1)
City Bookings: Raynes (22)
Officials: J Porter, S Parbery, T Farlow, D Austin (4th)