Bath City (0) 1 Dorking Wanderers (2) 2 – Saturday 30 August 2025
Enterprise National League South – Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
Match Report by Henry Burridge.
Darren Way encouraged his Bath City players to give themselves the best chance at success after falling to defeat against Dorking Wanderers.
The Romans saw two goalkeepers sent off over the course of an entertaining clash.
They had already fallen behind to Dennon Lewis’s early opener when Harvey Wiles-Richards was flashed red for hauling down Alfie Rutherford in the area. Jason Prior converted the penalty to double the visitors’ lead.
Ewan Clark came off the bench to pull City back into the game with a deflected strike, yet despite their valiant efforts there was no equaliser to be found.
And in the final twist, substitute glovesman Martin Horsell was sent off in the 95th minute.
Little more than 30 seconds into the game, Brad Ash’s acrobatic overhead kick forced Dorking stopper Harrison Foulkes into a diving save – the City man getting good direction but lacking power.
But it was Wanderers that grabbed a third-minute lead through Lewis. Rutherford was the creator, jinking skilfully past a defender and sliding the ball across for his team-mate to tap home.
Unperturbed, the Romans set about finding an equaliser, with Will Jenkins Davies their spark. He found his way to the byline on the right and cut the ball back for Ash who, completely unmarked, somehow shot wide.
Soon after, Alex Fisher set Jenkins Davies away down the right-hand channel again, with his low, hard cross inches away from being diverted in by the sliding Ash.
The City defence were almost caught out when miscommunication allowed Rutherford to get onto the ball in the box and fire across goal.
The backline also had to throw themselves into a couple of blocks to keep Dorking at bay, before the game-changing moment came on 35 minutes.
Parselle hit a firm pass back to Wiles-Richards that the keeper failed to fully control, allowing Rutherford to close down and block his clearance. A chase for the ball ensued, with Wiles-Richards dragging down the Dorking frontman for the double blow of a penalty and red card.
On came Horsell, who was left rooted to his line as Prior fired in the spot kick.
Joe Raynes nodded wide from a Danny Greenslade free-kick, while Prior sent a diving header over to see out the first half.
The visitors drew a pair of saves from Horsell early after the interval, James McShane hitting a volley while falling, and Rutherford cutting back for Jimmy Muitt to hit a curling shot into the keeper’s hands.
City stuck at their task, however, despite playing with 10 men. Luke Russe, following up from a half-cleared corner, had a firm header saved by Foulkes.
And they snatched a goal back just after the hour. Russe found substitute Clark in the middle of the pitch, with his deflected shot looping over the back-pedalling Foulkes.
Muitt had a couple of efforts blocked, but as the game wore on Dorking began to drop further back and kill the clock as the depleted Romans pushed for a leveller.
Jack Batten was thrown on up front by Way, but City couldn’t carve open the clean chance they needed.
And the game ultimately ended with them down to nine men. With the hosts packing the box for a late long throw, Dorking countered and set Lewis clear in behind.
Horsell raced off his line and slid into the Wanderers man to be given his marching orders, once play had been pulled back after the offside Brennan Camp had shot into the empty net.
Jordan Tillson became City’s third goalkeeper of the day but never got to use his gloves, as Dorking happily took a short free-kick to safely wind down the stoppage time.
Att: 1156
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade (Batten 88), Tomlinson, Parselle (c), Jenkins Davies, Ash (Clark 53), Fisher (Wilson 53), Tillson, Beardmore (Horsell 38), Russe. Subs not used: Alves, Sweeten, Matthews.
Scorers: City – Clark (61); Dorking – Lewis (3), Prior (pen 38)
City Bookings: Raynes (67), Tomlinson (85), Batten (90+1)
City Dismissals: Wiles-Richards (35), Horsell (90+5)
Officials: L Smith, D Malyon, P Collier, P Barber (4th)