Hampton & Richmond Borough (0) 0 Bath City (0) 1 – Tuesday 9 April 2024 – Vanarama National League South – Beveree Stadium

Ephraim Yeboah’s volley saw Bath City pick up a priceless three points at Hampton & Richmond.

The 17-year-old turned in Dan Greenslade’s cross to earn a deserved win for the Romans, their first at Hampton since 2018, moving them above the hosts into sixth.

Cody Cooke missed a fifth minute penalty, sending his kick against the post.

But in the end it proved academic as the hosts were shut down by a fine team display, Kieran Parselle standing out in his 100^th appearance for the Stripes.

City reverted to a 4-4-2 formation to match Hampton, who’d only scored one goal in their previous four games and the lack of excitement appeared to rub off on a strangely flat atmosphere at the Beveree

The home faithful were further silenced when City won a spot-kick with their first meaningful attack. Jack Batten’s diagonal ball was flicked on by Cooke to Scott Wilson, who attempted to flick the ball inside of Isaac Pitblado only to see the ball come off the centre-back’s arm.

Cooke took on responsibility again despite missing in the closing stages against Tonbridge, and he was foiled again, this time sending Adam Desbois the wrong way but sending his kick against the base of the left post.

The Romans leading scorer volleyed over when Jordan Thomas’ header sold Desbois short and Parselle was denied by the flying keeper as Dan Hayfield’s volley deflected to him in the box.

Hampton posted the first threat following the restart when Dominic Revan’s ball from the right just missed Ben Seymour and deflected harmlessly wide off the shins of Mason Bloomfield.

City took the lead just past the hour. Dan Greenslade was afforded space on the left and delivered for Yeboah, who expertly volleyed in from 12 yards, wrapping his foot around the ball and steering it out of Desbois’ reach into the bottom right corner.

Will Buse had to be alert to thwart ex-City forward Seymour after a fortunate ricochet fell his way. With City appealing for offside he burst clear but shot too close to the visiting stopper, who gobbled up the loose ball.

Wilson nearly made them pay immediately afterwards when Buse’s kick saw Yeboah play in the forward, who shanked wide from 12 yards.

Bloomfield thumped an effort against the crossbar from the edge of the box with Buse beaten, the Jamaican striker harmlessly heading the rebound straight at the keeper.

The same forward nodded Revan’s cross over as Hampton tried in vain for what would have been an undeserved leveller, with their general play lacklustre, leaving them six without a win.

In contrast it’s five unbeaten for Bath City, surpassing last season’s points tally and claiming a richly deserved 20^th clean sheet of the campaign in all competitions.