Odd Down (Bath) AFC (0) 0 Bath City (3) 4 – Tuesday 2 December 2025
Francis Hillier Premier Cup 2nd Round – Lew Hill Memorial Ground
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Bath City made light work of near neighbours Odd Down as they cruised into the quarter-finals of the Francis Hillier Premier Cup.
A Joe Paradise own goal plus strikes from Owen Windsor and Jordan Alves put City in control before the break.
Manny Yeboah added a fourth near the end to complete a comfortable evening’s work.
Owen Pritchard made his first start for the club with fellow academy prospects Zion Thompson and Tom Lewis on for debuts as substitutes at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground.
Odd Down produced the first effort on goal through Alfie Kelsey, a former City Academy goalkeeper now midfielder, but the recalled Harvey Wiles-Richards easily collected.
The Romans’ first main attack led to a seventh minute opener. Kieran Parselle’s ball from the left was only partially cleared by Trey Anderson to Yeboah, whose low drive appeared to be drifting wide before taking a huge nick off the heel of Paradise to wrong-foot Matthew Green and nestle into the bottom left corner.
It was just the start City needed and their dominance continued.
Windsor, earlier denied by Green, had a goal ruled out for offside on 21 minutes but wasn’t to be denied shortly after.
The hard-working forward latched on to a ball over the top, rode a few challenges as he skipped across the edge of the area before slotting low past Green.
A similar finish from Alves effectively made the game safe before half-time.
Collecting the ball from Yeboah on the right, the fleet-footed winger made room outside the area and his left-footed strike flew under Green.
Odd Down’s keeper was kept busy after half-time as City continued in the same vein.
Pritchard’s curler was batted away by Green who also denied Alves one-on-one before expertly clawing away his rasping drive from distance.
He was powerless to prevent a fourth on 77 minutes.
Mitch Beardmore found room on the left against a tiring defence and his centre was easily headed home by Yeboah from six yards.
Green smartly tipped Luke Russe’s long ranger over the bar before Wiles-Richards was forced to flick Jack Paul’s attempted cross over in the closest Odd Down came to a consolation.
Darren Way’s decision to field a strong side proved justified as it proved to be a useful exercise in front of an expected strong away following.
Att: n/a
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Tomlinson (Mabika 81), Batten (Lewis 81), Parselle (c), Alves, Yeboah, Beardmore, Russe, Pritchard, Windsor (Thompson 53). Subs not used: Greenslade, Tillson, Ash, Binns.
Scorers: City – Yeboah (7, 77), Windsor (24), Alves (37); Odd Down – none
City Bookings: none
Officials: J Salt, K Mann, K Slade
