Bath City (0) 1 Bracknell Town (0) 1 – Saturday 15 November 2025 – Isuzu FA Trophy 2nd Round – Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
(City won 5-3 on penalties)
Match Report by Henry Burridge.
Bath City produced a dramatic late turnaround to progress in the FA Trophy with a penalty shootout win over Bracknell Town.
Going into second-half stoppage time a goal down, it looked like another early elimination was on the cards to follow the Romans’ FA Cup woes at Wimborne – that was until Owen Windsor found a late leveller.
The goal sent the game to penalties, where City keeper Charlie Binns made the all-important save while his team-mates were perfect from the spot, with Brad Ash sealing progression.
Bath just about had the better of the first period, though quality when it mattered was missing for both sides.
Joe Raynes had a shot blocked and Mitch Beardmore fired well off target early on for the hosts, before Ash flicked a header wide following good work from Windsor.
A deflected Luke Russe shot was snatched just under the crossbar by Bracknell stopper Harry White, stumbling backwards to keep the ball out.
Bracknell had their best opportunities towards the end of the half. Frontman Jordan Esprit’s weak header was easily scooped up by Binns, while Giovanni McGregor struck a free-kick narrowly past the post.
Will Jenkins Davies had White scrambling with a dangerous cross just after the break, then fired wide from a Windsor knock-down.
But it was the visitors who went ahead following a penalty. Shae Hutchinson, seconds after stepping off the bench, was taken down by Binns as he sprinted into the box.
Seb Bowerman’s spot-kick was saved by Binns, though the taker shot home from the rebound.
The impetus raised for City, Jack Batten headed over and Jenkins Davies missed with a powerful volley.
Binns had to be alert to keep out a thumping Francis Amartey effort at his near post, but the Romans kept up their quest to level.
Windsor had a header held by White, who then kept out another Jenkins Davies strike following the midfielder’s driving run.
Both Beardmore and Jordan Alves also missed by a mile as the tension grew around Twerton Park.
The equaliser finally arrived in the 91st minute. A deep cross from Alves was nodded back across goal by skipper Kieran Parselle and Windsor nurdled the ball in from point-blank range.
To the shootout. The first five penalties were converted, before Binns sprung left to keep out Max Herbert.
Windsor and Ash followed up with successful spot-kicks to send City through.
Att: 805
City’s Line-Up: Binns, Raynes, Tomlinson, Batten, Parselle (c), Alves, Jenkins Davies, Ash, Beardmore, Russe, Windsor. Subs not used: Wiles-Richards, Greenslade, Pritchard, Mabika, Stirling.
Scorers: City – Windsor (90+1); Bracknell – Bowerman (62)
City Bookings: Beardmore (50), Binns (61)
Officials: C Fisk, T Durno, C Thompson, R Sargeant (4th)
