Bath City (0) 0 Plymouth Argyle (2) 3 – Saturday 18 July 2026 – Pre-Season Friendly – Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Tom Cleverley’s Plymouth Argyle showed their quality as they eased to success at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park.
While City frustrated the League One outfit in spells, goals from Owen Oseni, Michael Baidoo and Xavier Amaechi either side of the break were enough for the Pilgrims.
Harvey Wiles-Richards kept the score down with a string of fine saves in stifling conditions.
Alex Fisher, brought back as cover, came closest to netting for City in a commendable performance against a side four divisions higher.
Plymouth’s preparations were hampered by the team coach breaking down just outside the entrance to Twerton Park, but after a quiet opening they settled in and asserted their authority.
Mathias Ross’ header was clutched underneath the bar by Wiles-Richards after a long throw from former Roman Alex Hartridge caused a few moments of indecision.
Baidoo’s goalbound effort was blocked by Ollie Tomlinson as Argyle ramped up the pressure just before a needed hydration break with temperatures hitting 27 degrees.
Matty Sorinola shot too close to Wiles-Richards and Oseni wastefully headed Ross’s delivery wide as the dominance from the Devonians continued.
An opening goal finally arrived five minutes from the break.
Baidoo was afforded space in the box to cross, his entry was headed away by Jack Batten to Oseni, who startled Wiles-Richards with a swivel and first time effort at the far post which flew through the keeper’s legs.
The City keeper was left horribly exposed with a second goal in the last minute of the 45.
Bim Pepple turned in midfield and played through to Oseni, who was left onside with Kieran Parselle a yard deeper than the rest of the defence.
Oseni ran through and unselfishly squared to Baidoo for a simple tap-in.
Plymouth’s first meaningful opening of the second half resulted in a third.
Jordan Tillson was robbed 30 yards from goal allowing Oseni and Baidoo to combine.
Baidoo’s ball across was missed by Pepple but ran kindly for Amaechi, who nonchalantly side-footed home from eight yards.
Former England and Manchester United midfielder Cleverley changed Argyle’s entire side just past the hour and from Sam Hayman’s set-piece after the restart the unmarked Julio Pleguezuelo headed inches wide.
Owen Windsor and Fisher also snuck on for City during Plymouth’s raft of changes. The duo created an opening when Windsor outfoxed Joe Mwaro to cross for Fisher at the back post, whose header came off Hayman and behind for a corner.
It was the closest City came to getting on the scoresheet and Wiles-Richards was determined to keep the losing deficit respectable.
After Pleguezuelo headed another golden opportunity wide, Wiles-Richards showed sharp reflexes to deny Freddie Issaka, Caleb Roberts and Bradley Ibrahim in the space of five minutes, with Joe Raynes also on hand to thwart Issaka with a last ditch challenge.
It was an examination which the Romans coped with well against a side likely to challenge for promotion to the Championship, and Scott Bartlett’s side will expect another test at the weekend against managerless League Two outfit Newport County.
Att: 1274
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes (c), Tomlinson, Batten (Greenslade 61), Parselle, S Wilson (Trialist C 74), Trialist A (Bowman HT), Trialist B (Windsor 61), Tillson (Pritchard 86), Boldewijn (Fisher 61), D Wilson (Reid 61). Subs not used: Cook, Parsons.
Scorers: City – none; Plymouth – Oseni (40), Baidoo (45), Amaechi (53)
Officials: W Briers, N Blogg, P Aguilar, O Jones (4th)