Hereford FC (1) 2 Bath City Women (1) 1 – Sunday 7 September 2025
Adobe Women’s FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round – MandM Edgar Street Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Bath City Women exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle for a third season running.
Nell Bloomfield fired the Romans ahead before Sheree Smith levelled.
Mylie Jordan netted the winner just after half-time for the hosts at MandM Edgar Street.
Despite late pressure and a spirited display, Matt Abreu’s team couldn’t take the tie to penalties.
Tianna Chant blasted over inside a minute for Hereford and debutant keeper Lucy Clay denied Robyn Mear from a tight angle after the midfielder charged down her clearance.
City took the lead on 19 minutes with a well-worked goal. Tara Taylor escaped down the right, pulled it back to Bloomfield who smartly steered into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Maddy Brown planted inches wide before Clay bravely prevented Jordan as she burst through.
The six-minute stoppage for treatment hindered City’s momentum and they conceded on 35 minutes.
Home keeper Hannah Pritchard found Emily Ewing on the left, she played inside to Smith who controlled well and expertly rounded Clay before tapping home.
Brown went close twice and Poppy Spratt’s 30-yarder was spilled by Pritchard, who was fortunate to see it bounce wide.
Hereford got off to a dream start in the second half when they penned City back and Smith laid off for Jordan, who curled over Clay from outside the box.
Jasmine Rennie shot too close to Pritchard as the Romans pushed but struggled to make inroads until the closing stages.
Taylor was denied by Pritchard after an initial error from the goalkeeper and substitute Emma Vilday was snuffed out by the home defence after openings arrived for Abreu’s side.
City sent centre-backs Abby Gray and Rosie Burridge forward to try and force a leveller, but Hereford were resolute to claim a place in the 2nd Qualifying Round.
City’s Line-Up: Clay; Burridge, Fry, Gray; Taylor, Bloomfield, Spratt (Vilday 71), Evans (Duffy 53); Thorner-Atkinson (Trivett 75); Brown (Key 86), Rennie. Subs not used: Moran, Hemmings, Edwards.
Scorers: City – Bloomfield (19); Hereford – S Smith (34), Jordan (47)
Referee: Aaron Dyde