Larkhall Athletic (0) 0 Bath City (1) 1 – Tuesday 22 July 2025 – Pre-Season Friendly – Plain Ham
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Jordan Alves’ fine free-kick saw Bath City claim their first victory of pre-season.
The midfielder superbly bent home from 20 yards to see off a spirited Larkhall Athletic side.
City hit the frame of the goal three times at the Securitas Stadium as they searched for a more comfortable advantage.
One proved to be enough as Harvey Wiles-Richards claimed his first shut-out of the summer.
Will Sage warmed Wiles-Richards’ gloves inside a minute for the hosts before Kieran Parselle’s adventurous long-ranger for City flew harmlessly wide of Liam Armstrong’s goal.
The deadlock was broken on 19 minutes thanks to a few moments of brilliance.
Ewan Clark and Alves combined superbly on the edge of the box before the latter was scythed down from Asa White as he waited for a return pass.
Alves punished the Larks with the resulting free-kick, expertly whipping the ball around the wall from a central position and just inside Armstrong’s right post.
The midfielder had scored in City’s 2-2 draw with Larkhall last October in the Somerset Premier Cup, and the home side looked like they’d levelled immediately in this friendly.
Jack Goodall’s well-floated ball over the top was tidily dispatched by Dylan Tate into the bottom corner, but an offside flag correctly ruled it out.
Parselle was left red-faced when he stumbled over the ball wide of the penalty area under minimal pressure from Max Williams, who attempted to loft the ball over the stranded Wiles-Richards but it was easily taken by the relieved glovesman.
Larkhall escaped falling further behind when Luke Russe’s firm strike cannoned off the post back to Clark, whose rebound was well denied by the sharp reflexes of the grounded Armstrong.
Wiles-Richards easily collected Williams’ curler from distance at the end of an entertaining half.
Goalscorer Alves was one of five City players replaced at the break as they switched to a 3-5-2 with Scott Wilson partnering Alex Fisher in attack.
The Larks were nearly gifted a leveller when Wiles-Richards’ tame pass was collected by Tate, who rounded the goalkeeper before losing his balance without producing a telling shot, allowing Ollie Tomlinson to clear with ease.
After Williams fizzed one wide from 30 yards, Ollie Price’s men seldom threatened again as the Romans looked to extend their lead.
Wilson’s neat control and shot forced Armstrong into a smart parry with Cole Fleming thwarted on the follow-up by Sam Boulton.
Clark’s resulting corner was inadvertently headed against his own crossbar by White with Joe Raynes shovelling over as the Larks failed to clear.
White received a caution for a needless mid-air barge on Fisher on the halfway line, which arguably could have resulted in a red card in a competitive game.
Fisher was able to continue and within a minute headed Mitch Beardmore’s inviting cross wide from six yards.
The striker’s shot on the turn from 35 yards bounced well off target before his left-footer was snatched by Armstrong at the second attempt.
A missed header by Batten nearly let Alex Camm in for the hosts but he touched the ball too heavily away from Wiles-Richards and out of play.
Fisher’s next opportunity saw him unable to readjust in time to send Will Jenkins Davies’ cross on target.
Wilson’s pull-back for Jenkins Davies saw the midfielder become the latest City player frustrated by Armstrong’s shot-stopping and Raynes headed Jeffrey Forkuo’s cross wide as he looked to net against his former employers.
The final chance saw Tomlinson nod Jenkins Davies’ corner against the bar, preventing a goal his solid display would have deserved.
Ultimately the two division gap proved too much for depleted Larkhall to narrow as they suffered their first loss this July, though they can take pride in restricting City to just one goal.
Darren Way’s team will be hoping to build on this success with the visit of his former side Yeovil Town to Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday, ko 3pm.
Att: n/a
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Tomlinson, Parselle (c) (Batten HT), Alves (Beardmore HT), Clark (Jenkins-Davies 74), Ash (Wilson HT), Fisher, Sweeten (Trialist C HT), Forkou, Russe (Fleming B HT). Subs not used: Sardo, Greenslade, Pritchard.
Scorers: City – Alves (19); Larkhall – none
City Bookings: none
Referee: Ollie Taylor