Maidenhead United (2) 3 Bath City (0) 0 – Tuesday 31 March 2026 – Enterprise National League South – York Road
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Bath City slumped to a 20th defeat in 40 league games as they were comfortably beaten at play-off chasing Maidenhead United.
Goals from Josh Popoola, Josh Umerah and Alfie Pendlebury saw the hosts seal a straightforward win, their fifth in a row v City by an aggregate of 17-3 across a decade.
It consigned Scott Bartlett to a first defeat as City manager.
The Romans are now 14 league games without a win, their longest stretch since 2001, as relegation could be confirmed as early as Easter Monday.
Kieran Parselle made his 200th appearance for the club but Bartlett was without Harvey Wiles-Richards, Joe Raynes, Jack Batten, Will Jenkins Davies, Jordan Tillson and Luke Russe, before Brad Ash pulled up in the warm-up.
Alex Fisher joined the list inside 13 minutes as he hobbled off with Scott Wilson on in his place.
The disruption played into Maidenhead’s hands. Umerah had a header disallowed for a push before his effort was deflected inches wide following sustained pressure, highlighted by 11 corners won by the Magpies in the first half alone.
They finally found a way through on 31 minutes.
Charlie Binns, just up from treatment, didn’t come for for Owen Cochrane’s corner into the six yard box, allowing Will de Havilland to pull back for Popoola, who slammed home through a crowd from 10 yards.
Binns kept out Matt Robinson’s low drive from distance as the combination play from the hosts proved hot to handle, demonstrated by a second in first half added time.
Asher Yearwood’s clever backheel was pounced on by the lively Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, who burst into the box before being cynically hacked from behind by Owen Windsor.
It was the 13th penalty conceded by City this season in all competitions and arguably the most obvious with the lunge totally unnecessary.
As the clocked just crossed into first half added time, Umerah stepped up and lifted the penalty into the top right corner giving Binns no chance.
Frustratingly it was during the period when the visitors had clicked into gear.
In the final attack of the half, Windsor’s pull back from the byline reached Jaiden Putman on the corner of the penalty area, and his stinger was superbly tipped over by Jordi van Stappershoef.
This was as good as it got for the Romans as Maidenhead were seldom troubled after the break.
It allowed them to rest players for the run-in with substitutes proving their worth.
Maidenhead-born Pendlebury had only been on the pitch seven minutes when his near post run to Cochrane’s corner saw him nod home his first for the club since arriving in February from Hanwell Town.
Ollie Tomlinson had hobbled off by this point to add to Bartlett’s injury woes, with his side trying to prevent a second 4-0 defeat to Maidenhead this season.
Pendlebury and Yearwood were denied by Binns’ safe hands but with little threat at the other end it meant a 16th failure to score this season for the away side.
It was a performance which summed up City during this winless run, stretching over two months – no fault of effort but well off the levels required to compete in National League South, with their relegation now becoming a case of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.
Att: 958
City’s Line-Up: Binns, Greenslade, Tomlinson (Alexander-Walker 68), Parselle (c), Alves, Fisher (S Wilson 12), Windsor, Putman, Sheppard, D Wilson (Sweeten 79), Laqeretabua. Subs not used: Ash, Pritchard, Horsell.
Scorers: City – none; Maidenhead – Popoola (30), Umerah (pen 45+1), Pendlebury (71)
City Bookings: none
Officials: G Parsons, I Blakey, D Malyon, C Peter (4th)
