Hemel Hempstead Town (0) 1 Bath City (0) 0 – Saturday 25 October 2025 – Enterprise National League South – Vauxhall Road
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Joe White netted the latest goal scored against Bath City in National League South to earn victory for Hemel Hempstead Town.
The midfielder’s penalty was timed at 98 minutes 39 seconds when City looked to have taken a deserved point from Hertfordshire.
It was the third spot-kick conceded by the Romans in three away games, all in added time, costing them four points.
Having been awarded two penalties against them in the whole of last season, Darren Way’s side have now conceded five in the first 13 games this term.
City, unchanged from Tuesday’s fine win over AFC Totton, started positively against a side on a high having reached the FA Cup 1st Round and boasting the joint best defensive record in the division, conceding just nine.
Winning three corners in the opening five minutes was a signal of intent from Way’s charges, with the third of them eventually leading to Jordan Alves, on his 50th appearance, curling too close to the safe hands of Michael Johnson in a crowded penalty area.
They threatened again midway through the first half when the alert Brad Ash stole in front of Samuel Adenola on the byline, laid it off to Jake Tabor who tried to tee up Will Jenkins Davies in the six yard box.
The midfielder was forced to stretch and his wayward shot caught Ash on the shin before falling wide.
Hemel’s first threat of the half saw Johnson’s free-kick from halfway headed back by Adenola to Millar Matthews-Lewis, but the prolific forward couldn’t add to his 10 goals in all competitions this term, half volleying miles over.
They finally tested Harvey Wiles-Richards in first half added time when Darion Dowrich’s long throw was not fully cleared, allowing George Williams a strike at goal from 20 yards which the City stopped claimed well low to his right.
Luke Russe’s effort flew just over in the final kick of the half which saw the Romans head into the changing rooms the happier.
Hemel improved after the break and were narrowly close to taking the lead on the hour.
Jevani Brown’s driving run and ball to the back post picked out Williams who looked certain to tap in, but an inspired block by Joe Raynes played it back against Williams for a goal kick, with strong appeals for handball against the City full-back.
Williams tried to catch out Wiles-Richards from some 35 yards with a rocket of a free-kick which the keeper gathered at the second attempt.
The former Wales international tried again from similar range, with the wind behind him, only to see his set-piece brush the top of the net.
There was a heartwarming moment on 81 minutes when Trae Cook-Appiah appeared as a substitute, having last played competitively in the 4-2 defeat against City in August 2024 when he was stretchered off with a serious knee injury.
With seven minutes signalled to be added on, the time was extended after Kyle Ajayi required treatment following a tussle with substitute Manny Yeboah.
It worked in Hemel’s favour. After they’d already spurned an opening with Fin Wilkinson overhitting a straightforward through ball to White, they still found time to snatch three points.
Ajayi’s long ball forward was headed inside by Ade Azeez to White, who went down after a pull on the shoulder by Jordan Tillson.
Following a lengthy delay, White strolled up and sent Wiles-Richards the wrong way, making amends for missing from the spot at Hampton four days previous.
It left the Romans deflated as another point slipped through their fingers in agonising fashion.
Att: 722
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Tomlinson, Batten, Parselle (c), Alves (Beardmore 73), Jenkins Davies, Tabor (Yeboah 90+2), Ash (Sweeten 80), Tillson, Russe. Subs not used: Horsell, Mabika.
Scorers: City – none; Hemel – White (pen 90+9)
City Bookings: Batten (70), Tillson (90+8)
Officials: S Bragg, J Lamping, T Osborn, A Crossley (4th)
