Bath City Women (1) 4 Paulton Rovers Women (1) 3 – Sunday 2 November 2025
Shield Services Group SW Regional WFL Div 1 North – Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Jasmine Rennie’s 96th minute winner saw Bath City Women recover from 3-1 down to overcome Paulton Rovers Ladies in a seven-goal thriller.
The 18-year-old had unwittingly put the visitors ahead early in the second half after Maddy Brown’s goal was cancelled out by Aimee Michell in the first.
Alice Ford’s lob appeared to make the game safe for the visitors, who hadn’t won since April.
But Pheobe Walls, Tara Taylor and Rennie’s heroics earned a stunning victory for Matt Abreu’s side, their first win from a losing position in 2025.
Such drama appeared unlikely in the opening half hour as City frequently threatened against the side without an away win in 11 months.
Brown volleyed Taylor’s free-kick just wide and Adella Clarke shot too close to Rosie Kelsey after Erin Duffy picked her out following a strong run down the left.
Duffy’s free-kick was inadvertently flicked on by Ford to Taylor, but she tamely rolled straight at Kelsey.
City finally took the lead midway through the first half.
Taylor’s lofted ball was only partially gloved away by Kelsey and Brown cleverly hooked over her own shoulder from six yards away from the goalkeeper’s reach.
A precise ball over the top from Abby Gray put Brown clear a minute later but under pressure from Evie Thatcher she failed to trouble Kelsey.
Paulton benefited from a lax final 10 minutes of the half from the Romans.
Lucy Clay’s stray clearance hit Jess Abbott and rebounded kindly for Alisha Stuart, but she spooned straight at the relieved stopper.
Rovers’ leading scorer was inches away from levelling when her free-kick from 20 yards cannoned off the crossbar with Clay beaten.
Instead, a fine assist from the forward led to a deserved leveller.
Stuart turned Eve Trivett in her own half and threaded through to Michell, who held off Bex Fry before expertly dinking over the advanced Clay.
They carried on the momentum after half-time.
Stuart saw her fierce effort tipped around the post by Clay and her resulting corner led to a soft second.
The number 10’s inswinger bounced in the six yard box and came off the shin of Rennie before rolling over the line to give the visitors a shock lead.
City’s dismal start to the second half continued as they fell 3-1 behind with 51 minutes played.
Clay’s attempted pass from the back fell straight to Ford, who composed herself before lofting home with ease past the stranded goalkeeper from 30 yards.
Beth Edwards teed herself up before volleying wide as Abreu’s side sought a quick response.
It was the midfielder’s last involvement as an ankle injury saw her withdrawn, shortly after debutant Sophie Storey and Emma Vilday also entered the fray.
City’s Line-Up: Clay; Fry, Gray, Trivett; Taylor, Spratt, Edwards, Duffy; Rennie; Clarke, Brown. Subs used: Walls, Storey, Davies, Vilday.
Scorers: City – Brown (23), Walls (68), Taylor (80), Rennie (90+6); Paulton – Michell (42), OG (47), Ford (51)
Referee: Jack Cooper
