Next Match – Weymouth (H)
Bath City will be hoping to complete a hat-trick of wins this season over Weymouth this Good Friday.
Weymouth will be managed by former City goalkeeper Jason Matthews this Friday after Bobby Wilkinson’s shock departure in the week. The former Hungerford, Wealdstone and Bracknell boss had replaced David Oldfield in September 2022 after he was dismissed immediately after defeat at Twerton Park. Matthews has stepped in having previously managed the club between 2014-2017.
The Romans brushed aside the Terras twice in the first half of the campaign. Late-September saw them paired in the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round. Dan Hayfield’s header and a Scott Wilson tap-in were enough at the Bob Lucas Stadium, where Matthews, 49, was on the bench for the hosts. Tom Bearwish pulled one back in added time, giving City a nervy final few minutes having been comfortable for the preceding 90.
The rematch in the league five weeks later saw City record a scoreline reflecting their dominance. Goals from Elliott Frear (2), Wilson, Jordan Thomas and Cody Cooke, the latter against his former club, rounded off a fine 5-1 victory, City’s biggest on the road this season.
Ben Thomson was on target for the hosts but the striker has since moved on. Comings and goings have been a theme for the Dorset side this season. They’ve used 51 players in all competitions, a tally boosted by fielding a youthful side in the Dorset Senior Cup at Wimborne, resulting in a predictable 8-1 hammering. Despite the lack of stability on the pitch, they’ve performed well. Having avoided relegation on the final day last season, they’re set for a calmer mid-table finish this term. Saturday’s 4-1 win over Havant & Waterlooville saw them hit the 50-point mark with plenty of time on their side.
City will be wary that Weymouth’s away form could cause them difficulty. At home, Weymouth have conceded a league high 38. On their travels, it’s a league low 20 against. Harvey Wiles-Richards is currently between the sticks for the Terras – the Bristol City loanee made his first two league starts for the Romans against Weymouth in the 2019/20 season, a year Weymouth won promotion via the play-offs. Wiles-Richards is a Bath City Academy graduate and the cousin of Joe Raynes. Raynes has just surpassed 200 outings for the Stripes and captained the team last week – a serious ankle injury in a 0-0 draw with Friday’s opposition in March 2020 prevented him reaching the landmark sooner. The Bathonian should lead the side again if Kieran Parselle remains on the sidelines. Isaac Vassell and Tom Smith will be back in contention with Duncan Idehen and Jack Bates set to make their home debuts. Idehen’s last outing at Twerton was for Yeovil in December’s West Country Derby.
We’ll be hoping for another big crowd this Friday for the 160th meeting between these well-acquainted teams. Tickets are available here for a discounted rate. Come along to Twerton Park to cheer on the Romans in their continued push for the play-offs!
