Maidstone United (0) 2 Bath City (0) 0 – Saturday 6 December 2025 – Enterprise National League South – Gallagher Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Charlie Binns became the third different Bath City goalkeeper sent off this season in a moment of controversy at Maidstone United.
The City stopper was harshly penalised for upending Deon Moore, resulting in a straight red with Antony Papadopoulos confidently dispatching the penalty past replacement Harvey Wiles-Richards.
Riley Court made sure of the win in added time with his first league goal for the Stones.
City have now let in five goals after the 90th minute, conceded seven penalties and seen four players sent off, though they can count themselves unlucky with the latter two in Kent.
Binns was recalled for Wiles-Richards, who started the win over Odd Down in the week. Right-back Jaiden Putman was also included as a substitute having signed on loan from QPR, acting as cover with Joe Raynes suspended.
Maidstone nearly got off to a dream start. Inside 30 seconds, David Sesay’s cross from the right was met by the head of Moore, who forced Binns into a fine parry, though an offside flag would have chalked it off anyway.
The City keeper was called upon again on 10 minutes when Nathan Harness’ long ball forward was flicked on by Moore to Jephte Tanga on the left.
Tanga’s near post delivery was headed towards goal by Jon Gilbert, but Binns reacted sharply to tip over.
City’s first opening was a well-worked move involving Dan Greenslade, Matt Bowman and Mitch Beardmore. The trio linked up with Greenslade’s ball from the byline cannoning off Owen Windsor arriving at the near post, who had little chance to control and shoot.
Another combination down the left saw Beardmore play inside to Brad Ash on the edge of the box, who saw his curler deflected just wide by Lexus Beeden.
Tanga looped a header wide after goalkeeper Harness’ long pass was helped on by Moore, before Moore, a former City loanee, turned Kieran Parselle and planted a yard wide from the edge of the box.
Overall it was a competent first half display from Darren Way’s side, and they remained in the game at the start of the second with Greenslade’s speculative effort flying harmlessly wide.
Their good work was all undone on 55 minutes.
A misplaced Greenslade pass saw him caught out of position, leaving Papadopoulos in room on the Stones right.
His fizzed ball was fumbled by Binns and Moore theatrically fell over the grounded keeper at his near post.
Referee Ayrton Hursey pointed to the spot, deeming it a professional foul, sending Binns off and ultimately changing the course of the game.
While City had an able replacement in Wiles-Richards, they were forced to withdraw the lively Beardmore and play a man down.
Papadopoulos, who slammed a penalty past City 13 months ago at Twerton, went more for placement this time and sent Wiles-Richards the wrong way to put the hosts ahead.
It gave George Elokobi’s side a spring in their step. With 15 minutes remaining, Tanga hit the post from Papadopoulos’ pull-back and as City failed to clear their lines, Tanga centred for Gilbert who wastefully skewed wide when off balance.
Moore also struck the goal frame as the hosts sensed a second. Leo Hamblin’s searching ball saw the forward hold off substitute Putman, round Wiles-Richards but from an acute angle he side-footed against the base of the left post.
The visitors were then rocked by an injury to Ollie Tomlinson, who went off holding his back, before substitute Jordan Alves was caught in the air by Papadopoulos, forcing him to wear a head bandage for the remainder.
Academy forward Zion Thompson was thrown on for Jordan Tillson for a league debut, but he’d barely had time to collect rubber crumb on his boots before an opposition youth product made the game safe.
George Fowler headed the ball out to Papadopoulos, who spotted Court in room on the right.
The youngster sprinted away and drilled across the helpless Wiles-Richards to keep them on the fringes of a play-off spot.
City remain three points clear of the bottom four as they were left ruing a game-changing decision, preventing them earning further breathing space from the drop zone.
Att: 1773
City’s Line-Up: Binns, Greenslade, Tomlinson (Yeboah 84), Batten (Putman 68), Parselle (c), Ash, Tillson (Thompson 90+5), Beardmore (Wiles-Richard 55), Russe (Alves 78), Bowman, Windsor. Subs not used: Pritchard.
Scorers: City – none; Maidstone – Papadopoulous (pen 55), Court (90+4)
City Bookings: Batten (23), Ash (67), Bowman (71)
City Dismissal: Binns (54)
Officials: A Hursey, H Clark, R Chantrill-Smith, S Cutler (4th)