Bath City (1) 1 Port Vale (3) 5 – Saturday 12 July 2025 – Pre-Season Friendly – Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
League One Port Vale showed their class as they romped to victory at a sun-drenched Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park.
Darren Moore fielded a strong side in Somerset as five different scorers did the damage to Darren Way’s charges.
Scott Wilson netted City’s first goal of pre-season, adding to his goal against the Valiants last year.
But a couple of individual errors cost the Romans, who suffered back-to-back losses this summer.
Ruari Paton set up Vale’s first chance. The Irishman was set away down the right from Mitch Clark’s pass and teed up Rico Richards, but the attacking midfielder blazed over.
They made their second opportunity count on 11 minutes. Paton and Clark combined again, this time a threaded pass which saw Clark steam away from Dan Greenslade into the area before rifling into the roof of the net.
Sam Hart made it two soon after. Jaheim Headley’s disguised pass from Paton’s half-cleared corner caught the Romans out and the flag stayed down to allow Hart to control well before confidently side-footing home.
Referee Jack Clench called a drinks break midway through the half as temperatures touched 32 degrees and the break appeared to benefit Darren Way’s team, wearing unfamiliar white.
Brad Ash recorded City’s first effort on target as he linked up with Will Jenkins Davies before seeing his 20-yarder well tipped over by Arron Davies.
The deficit was halved on 35 minutes. Kieran Parselle won possession from Richards high up the field from a short goal kick and the ball ran loose to Scott Wilson, who slammed past Davies from 12 yards.
It was a deserved goal during City’s best spell of the game but a defensive lapse punished them just before the break.
Dan Greenslade’s momentary hesitation saw him robbed by Richards, who brilliantly dissected the City defence to play it through to Jayden Stockley.
While the assist was excellent, the finish was even better as Stockley effortlessly flicked the ball perfectly over Harvey Wiles-Richards from 18 yards.
Vale’s only change at the break was a trialist goalkeeper replacing academy graduate Davies, but he was largely untroubled as the visitors looked keen to add to their tally.
After Paton had a goal chalked off for offside, Headley squared the ball across Wiles-Richards looking to tee up Stockley for a tap-in, but Jack Batten recovered well to deflect behind for a corner.
City’s relief was short-lived as from the resulting set-piece Ben Lomax’ effort bounced agonisingly against the post with Richards on hand to easily touch in the rebound.
Darren Moore chose to replace all outfield players just past the hour while City introduced Jordan Alves, Alex Fisher and trialist Cole Fleming for Luke Russe, Wilson and Mitch Beardmore.
New Zealand international Ben Waine, recently signed from Plymouth, was gifted a first unofficial goal in Vale colours on 69 minutes.
Batten dallied on the ball 25 yards from goal and was easily pick-pocketed by the forward, who held off his desperate challenge before driving past Wiles-Richards from 10 yards.
Waine nearly turned provider in the closing minutes as his cross from the right was met firmly by Jack Shorrock, but Wiles-Richards superbly repelled him from close range.
Referee Clench spared any added time in the heatwave as a good workout for City saw them ultimately outclassed by the newly promoted Valiants.
Att: 541
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Greenslade, Tomlinson, Batten (Trialist B 75), Parselle (c), Jenkins-Davies (Sweeten 88), Wilson (Fisher 62), Ash, Tillson (Trialist C 75), Beardsmore (Trialist A 62), Russe (Alves 62). Subs not used: Horsell, Sardo, Mabika, Pritchard.
Scorers: City – Wilson (35); Port Vale – Clark (11), Hart (20), Stockley (41), Richards (49), Waine (69)
City Bookings: none
Referee: Jack Clench