Bath City (0) 1 Yeovil Town (3) 3 – Saturday 26 July 2025 – Pre-Season Friendly – Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Will Jenkins Davies’ fine finish wasn’t enough as arch-rivals Yeovil Town overcame Bath City.
Mark Cooper’s National Leaguers did the damage with three first half goals in the Somerset Derby.
Morgan Williams, James Daly and Josh Sims netted for the clinical Glovers to leave City shell-shocked.
City improved hugely after the break but were ultimately made to pay for a sub par half hour beforehand.
The hosts had the first opening when Ewan Clark’s long-ranger from Mitch Beardmore’s lay-off was initially spilled by Matt Gould, but the Yeovil keeper gobbled up the loose ball in time.
Following sustained pressure from a corner, Yeovil took the lead.
Trialist A’s teasing ball from the right was met by Williams at the far post, who cleverly flicked home.
It continued a fine run from the centre-back against the Romans, having netted in the 2022 Somerset Premier Cup between the two and the previous league meeting between the clubs in December 2023.
Yeovil’s second shot on target resulted in a second goal.
A flowing move down the right concluded with Trialist A’s miscued shot reacted on sharply by Daly, who slid in to fire into the roof of the net from close range.
The clinical Glovers made it three on 37 minutes. Joe Raynes’ initial interception was picked upon by Sims, who cut inside and rifled into the bottom left corner.
Sims nearly notched another when Dan Greenslade’s clearance cannoned against his shin, forcing the back-tracking Harvey Wiles-Richards to glove behind.
Wiles-Richards smartly grasped Williams’ shot on the turn and Kieran Parselle’s inspired block prevented new signing Byron Pendleton a fourth just before the half-time whistle.
City brought on Scott Wilson and Jack Batten at the break for Brad Ash and Beardmore, reverting to a back three.
It did the trick. After Aaron Jarvis’ trickler was easily taken by Wiles-Richards, the glovesman was a near spectator for most of the half.
Jenkins Davies was denied by Alex Whittle’s last-ditch challenge before the City midfielder lofted off target from Raynes’ ball over the top.
Raynes curled wide and Wilson’s shot on the turn was blocked as the Romans continued to press, eventually forcing nine corners and asking more questions of the visiting backline.
They were rewarded with an 81st minute goal. Williams’ loose header inside was controlled by Jenkins Davies, who superbly lashed past the standstill Gould from 20 yards.
Charlie Cooper’s 30-yard stinger was batted away by Wiles-Richards as they appeared to tire, not helped by only three outfield substitutes available at a warm Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park.
Alex Fisher saw his header from Jordan Alves’ cross well tipped over by Gould, before the former Glovers forward was agonisingly close to applying the final touch to Jenkins Davies’ ball back in added time.
Parselle headed Dan Greenslade’s corner wide in the game’s last chance as Yeovil went home the happier.
Att:853
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Tomlinson, Parselle (c), Jenkins-Davies, Clark (Alves 76), Ash (Wilson HT), Tillson, Beardmore (Batten HT), Russe (Fisher 81). Subs not used: Billington, Sardo, Sweeten, Pritchard, Fleming.
Scorers: City – Jenkins-Davies (81); Yeovil – Williams (14), Daly (27), Sims (37)
City Bookings: Russe (56)
Officials: J Bromham, O Walby, Bayliss, I Harley (4th)