Bath City (1) 2 Ebbsfleet United (1) 2 – Tuesday 17 February 2026
Enterprise National League South – Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Matt Bowman rescued a midweek point for Bath City with virtually the last kick of the game.
The midfielder notched his second of the match in the seventh minute of added time to leave visitors Ebbsfleet crestfallen.
It looked like Dominic Samuel’s late penalty, conceded by Bowman, would have been enough to earn the in-form ‘fleet three points.
But the Swiss midfielder made amends as City extended their unbeaten home league run to seven games.
Donovan Wilson was handed his second debut as one of three alterations from the side which lost to Dagenham, including a formation change to a back four.
The Romans made light work of a heavy pitch as they flew out of the traps.
A poor pass from Gene Kennedy put Ebbsfleet initially in trouble as Bowman slipped it through to Wilson.
He was bravely denied by the sliding Matt Hall in goal with Owen Windsor crowded out on the rebound.
The promising start was rewarded with a third minute opener.
Luke Russe chested Jordan Tillson’s ball inside and combined with Brad Ash before playing back to Bowman, 25 yards from goal.
Capitalising on a slip from Jake Hessenthaler, Bowman made half a yard and his drive took a hefty nick off the thigh of Jamie Fielding to bounce away from Hall’s desperate dive to his left.
Ash was forced off inside nine minutes with a hamstring strain, withdrawn for Moses Alexander-Walker, with Fielding soon following him down the tunnel as his return from a lengthy layoff was cut short.
It continued his misfortune at Twerton – conceding a penalty for Tonbridge in 2024, deflecting in Ash’s goal a year later plus his rotten luck this time.
Windsor belted over after initially doing well to keep Dan Greenslade’s free-kick alive. The striker reacted sharpest to Wilson’s hold-up play but his composure let him down when only 10 yards out.
This proved a wake-up call for the Kent outfit who clicked into gear.
Charlie Binns saved Fin Barnes’ shot with his legs but the respite was minimal as Kennedy won the ball back and cleverly slipped Barnes away again.
His attempt across goal was intercepted by Joe Raynes but ran loose to Tom Dallison, who thumped in from near the penalty spot.
City were forced to be disciplined after the break and keep their concentration levels up as United enjoyed a lot of the ball.
Binns’ palms were stung by Chapman’s arrower on the angle before Darren Way’s team showed their determination to remain level around the hour mark.
Barnes’ shot was inadvertently blocked by Kennedy with Raynes vitally intercepting Samuel on the follow-up, swiftly followed by Kieran Parselle needing treatment after courageously throwing himself in the way of Edser.
The City captain unintentionally caused a stoppage when his clearance caught assistant referee Matthew Uren on the side of the head, the official requiring treatment while Greenslade jokingly flagged for an offside.
While the stoppage appeared to initially ruin Ebbsfleet’s flow, they found their rhythm again and combined to win a penalty 11 minutes from time.
Barnes and substitute Josh Coley worked a smart one-two before the former was caught by Bowman’s desperate lunge in the box.
His reaction suggested the decision was correct, and Samuel kept a cool head to side-foot home his 16th goal of the season, sending Binns the wrong way to give Josh Wright’s men the lead.
It should have been enough, but their tendency to concede added time goals, also a regular habit of City’s this season, came back to haunt them.
Raynes was pushed forward and his mazy run culminated in his shot deflected behind for a corner.
Knowing it was the last chance, Binns came forward to join the crowded six yard box and was centimetres from connecting with Mitch Beardmore’s devilish delivery.
It evaded Parselle too but not Bowman, who scruffily applied the final touch.
Remarkably it was the fourth time in February alone that Ebbsfleet had seen a win turn to a draw thanks to a stoppage time goal, costing them eight points.
The frustration boiled over into the dugout as assistant manager David Kerslake was sent off, with him hearing the final whistle while making his way down the tunnel.
Att: 745
City’s Line-Up: Binns, Raynes, Greenslade (Beardmore 88), Parselle (c), Ash (Alexander-Walker 9), Tillson (Batten 67), Russe, Bowman, Windsor (Alves 67), Putman, D Wilson (Fisher 73). Subs not used: Horsell, Sullivan.
Scorers: City – Bowman (3, 90+7); Ebbsfleet – Dallison (26), Samuel (pen 79)
City Bookings: Batten (86), Russe (88)
Officials: S Read, L McFarlane, M Uren, J Woolley (4th)
