Match Preview – Odd Down (Bath) AFC – Francis Hillier Premier Cup 2nd Round

01 Dec 2025

City undertake their shortest possible away journey tomorrow evening when they face Western League side Odd Down (Bath ) AFC in the 2nd Round of the Francis Hillier Premier Cup.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Just three miles separate Twerton Park from the Lew Hill Memorial Ground, where Bath City’s first team have only played at once in a competitive fixture. That was a remarkable evening in November 2002. Manager Alan Pridham fielded a near full-strength side in second round tie, which was goalless until the 66th minute before a late smattering of goals. Jim Rollo’s header put the Romans in front but goals from Wilson and Whitecliffe in the space of a minute moved the Western Premier side ahead. Two further quick goals from City by Andy Minturn and Gary Thorne looked to have been enough, but Whitecliffe’s second at the death took the tie to extra time. Jason Eaton saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Tristan Westlake who looked set to be required again with penalties looming. However, Wilson scrambled home a winner to send the home support into raptures as Odd Down progressed to the quarter finals.

In a quirk to the fixtures, Odd Down were scheduled to play Bath City Reserves four days later in a league game at Twerton. As punishment, Pridham fielded a first team again and despite falling behind inside a minute, they were spared further embarrassment with a comfortable 6-1 win.

The only other competitive meeting between the first teams was in February 2013 in a Somerset Premier Cup quarter final at Twerton Park, where City won 2-0 thanks to second half goals from Charlie Griffin and Joe Lennox.

     

TRIVIA

  • Odd Down’s side contains a catalogue of former Bath City Academy players. Of those. Charlie Saunders, Lewis Bahadur and Alfie Andrews appeared in cup competitions for the first team.
  • Harvey Wiles-Richards’ father Shaun is a former Odd Down player. He was on their books during the 2002 meeting, the year Harvey was born.

FORM

  • Odd Down, who are four divisions below City, had their game at AEK Boco postponed on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch. Since beating Yeovil in the Francis Hillier Premier Cup in October they’ve picked up one win in five, a 6-1 thrashing of Shirehampton.
  • Bath City have lost one of their last seven matches in all competitions and have won 19 of their last 21 Somerset Premier (now Francis Hillier) cup ties against Western League opponents.

If you’re unable to attend, you can obtain updates via:

X – @BathCity_FC
Bath City Radio – also on the Mixlr app, search for Bath City Radio.