Bath City (0) 0 Torquay United (0) 0 – Tuesday 30 December 2025
Enterprise National League South – Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
Match Report by Henry Burridge.
Bath City proved more than a match for promotion-chasing Torquay United in a goalless draw at Twerton Park.
Torquay began the game strongly, but after an opening half-hour where City made themselves obdurate opposition, they steadily became more ambitious, though ultimately neither side could find the net.
Jordan Young was a constant threat for the Gulls in Tuesday’s contest and, aside from a couple of long-range Jordan Alves efforts, City spent much of the first 30 minutes on the back foot.
A dummy at the edge of the box gave Matt Jay a shooting chance from close in for Torquay, but he fired across goal.
Young was next to try his luck, the winger picking up on a poor piece of control from City skipper Kieran Parselle and forcing a save from Wiles-Richards after cutting inside.
A few minutes later Young sent a swinging cross to the far post, where Dan Hayfield’s towering header was kept out by a sharp Wiles-Richards block.
The industrious Brad Ash was a spark for City – perhaps with a point to prove against his former employers.
Just after the half-hour mark, he won the ball at the edge of his own area and fed Alves to burst forward, winning a free-kick just outside the Torquay box. Alves struck the resulting dead ball under the wall but straight at keeper James Hamon.
Another jinking run ended in Young thwacking an effort into the Bristol End and Jay also swiped a snap-shot wide for Torquay, yet City were finding plenty more touches around the visitors’ area.
Ash forced his way to the byline under pressure and nudged the ball back for Owen Windsor to strike over from a tricky angle.
And at the end of the first period Windsor almost returned the favour, hooking a deep Luke Russe cross into a dangerous area, with a Torquay boot just stopping Ash from firing on goal.
The Romans continued to push after the break as Ash’s well-struck effort found Hamon’s hands.
Not that Torquay’s threat evaporated. Sonny-Blu Lo-Everton saw a curling shot headed away, while ex-City striker Cody Cooke, who came off the bench to a chorus of boos, shot into the side netting.
Alves almost played Ash in behind and City sent in a couple of threatening low crosses before Torquay rallied over the final 15 minutes.
A dangerous low corner from Young squirmed its way through the Romans’ penalty area and Wiles-Richards did well to punch another flag-kick clear under pressure.
Good build-up between Alves, Danny Greenslade and Matt Bowman ended in the latter shooting off target with City’s final opportunity.
And the night concluded with Hayfield striking wide for the Gulls after Dylan Morgan worked space to get a cross in from the left.
Att: 2289
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Batten, Parselle (c), Alves, Ash, Tillson, Russe, Bowman (Putman 90+3), Windsor. Subs not used: Sweeten, Beardmore, Pritchard, Binns, Yeboah.
Scorers: City – none; Torquay – none
City Bookings: Tillson (22), Bowman (90+2)
Officials: G Parsons, M Smith, P Collier, J Duffy (4th)