Sholing (1) 1 Bath City (1) 2 – Saturday 8 August 2026 – Southern League Premier South – The Mortgage Decisions Stadium
Match Report by Henry Burridge.
Harry Parsons marked his debut with a stunning late winner as Bath City toughed out victory at Sholing on the opening day of the new campaign.
The hosts looked threatening from the off and took an early lead through Michael Folivi, but City rebounded to level with Scott Wilson’s goal before the break.
With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Parsons produced the flash of quality the second half had been missing to clinch victory.
Sholing, who narrowly missed out on the Premier South play-offs last season, started well, intent on moving the ball slickly on the 3G surface and keen on using the wide areas.
Olly Pendlebury got the first shot of the game away for them, forcing Harvey Wiles-Richards to drop sharply to his right to repel a low effort.
City were given a warning sign when Sam Magri got a dangerous low cross in from the right that the defence just about dealt with.
That flank would prove the source of the opening goal soon after. Tommy Willard raced on to Magri’s pass and bounded forward, before sending in another low cross for Folivi to slot home.
The visitors responded to that setback well and began to grow into the game. Neither Parsons or Wilson were able to test home keeper Jack Turner with their efforts, while Joe Raynes had a thudding shot blocked.
The equaliser finally arrived on the half-hour. Matt Bowman found Donovan Wilson, whose spin and deft dink into the centre was volleyed home from close range by Scott Wilson.
Turner then had to splay out a foot to stop Parsons’ stinging drive, while Wiles-Richard made another sharp save from Willard at the other end.
As they had the first, Sholing began the second half well, with Folivi jagging on from the left flank and evading a desperate Ollie Tomlinson challenge, only to fire wide.
City had two more scares in the space of a minute, first when Joe Rabbetts’ cross deflected off a defender and looped agonisingly past the post.
A clever routine from the resulting corner then teed up a glorious chance for Harry Taylor, but the defender blasted over from eight yards out.
Magri also sent a dipping strike wide as Sholing continued to ask most of the questions, though determined City stuck to their task.
The Romans could have gone in front had Tomlinson not slipped at the key moment, as the ball instead flew over his head from an excellent dead-ball delivery.
Still Sholing pushed. Folivi hammered a shot into the side netting after a miscued clearance from Raynes and Vinnie Tume hit a long-range drive comfortably into the hands of Wiles-Richards.
With the teams tiring in the searing Hampshire heat, it felt as though neither was going to muster the moment of magic needed to clinch the game.
Parsons, however, wasn’t content with a point. Reuben Reid chested down the ball and knocked it forward for the summer signing, who carefully watched the bounce before lifting a shot up and over Turner to snatch the win.
Att: 725
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes (c), Tomlinson, Parselle, Boldewijn, S Wilson (Streczen 64), Minturn, Tillson, Parsons, Bowman (Chamberlain 64), D Wilson (Reid 30). Subs not used: Batten, Cook.
Scorers: City – S Wilson (29), Parsons (86); Sholing – Folivi (10)
City Bookings: Parsons (90+2)
Officials: D Morey, S Fall, O Farjadpour