Bath City (2) 2 Salisbury (0) 0 – Saturday 20 December 2025 – Enterprise National League South – Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Owen Windsor’s first half double earned Bath City some pre-festive joy at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park.
The striker made it five goals in four home games and is the first City player to net in his first four home starts since John Williams in August-September 2004.
Harry Pell impressed on debut before making way late for Owen Pritchard, on for a brief maiden outing in the league.
Kieran Parselle’s heroic clearance off the line kept the Romans’ clean sheet intact as they moved above Brian Dutton’s side, who have now lost their last five against City.
Harvey Wiles-Richards was back between the sticks for flu victim Charlie Binns, with Pell replacing Jordan Alves in two changes from the FA Trophy success on penalties at Dorking Wanderers.
The returning stopper was barely troubled in the first half as City pressed, harried and frequently forced Salisbury into mistakes.
Pell nodded Dan Greenslade’s hanging cross straight at former Romans custodian Will Buse inside three minutes, soon followed by Joe Raynes dragging wide after Luke Russe’s corner was headed out to the edge of the penalty area.
A deserved opener arrived in the 14th minute.
Jordan Tillson spotted a run of Brad Ash, who looked to have too much to do to keep it in play.
However a last-ditch stretch saw him fire back across goal for Windsor at the near post, who cleverly flicked in from a yard out.
Russe was inches away from making it 2-0 on 25 minutes.
Buse played the ball out to Dom Revan, whose quick spin saw him lose possession to the City midfielder.
With space opening, Russe tried his luck from 20 yards, only to be denied by the top of the crossbar.
An inevitable second was netted 14 seconds into first half additional time.
Raynes’ free-kick from halfway bounced to Matt Bowman, who held off Camron Gbadebo before somehow squeezing the ball through to Windsor.
With Salisbury appealing for offside, Windsor remained composed to stroke home from 10 yards.
It was the first time City had netted twice at home in the first half for a day short of a year, and gave the visitors, who’d failed to score in seven of 11 away games previously, a proverbial mountain to climb.
They brought on Josh Hedges for the anonymous Ollie Morgan at the break but despite the attacking move it was Darren Way’s men who looked more likely to add to their tally, with Jack Batten’s header towards the back post helped over by Buse.
Josh Sommerton headed Matt Briggs’ driven corner over in the Whites’ first real threat on City’s goal with an hour played.
It was nearly 3-0 just after. Greenslade’s corner was inadvertently flicked on by Josh Keeya towards Parselle at the far post but Revan somehow helped the ball over his own crossbar.
The City skipper was needed at the other end on 88 minutes with a stunning intervention.
In Salisbury’s best passage of play by far, Noah Coppin’s terrific through ball set Hedges away, and he rolled the ball past the advancing Wiles-Richards with a goal seeming inevitable.
Instead, Parselle’s determination saw him sprint back and slide off the line and make the closing stages more comfortable for the hosts.
Hedges leathered across the face of goal after rare hesitancy in the back line in Salisbury’s only other sparkle as a flat performance from them got what it deserved, with City’s overall energy proving too much to help them towards three important points.
Att: 1396
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Batten, Parselle (c), Ash (Yeboah 84), Tillson, Russe, Bowman (Beardmore 84), Windsor (Alves 77), Pell (Pritchard 90+6). Subs not used: Horsell, Sweeten.
Scorers: City – Windsor (14, 45+1); Salisbury – none
City Bookings: Russe (80), Alves (82)
Officials: J Bollard, T Green, I Blakey, J Woolley (4th)