Salisbury (0) 0 Bath City (1) 1 – Tuesday 19 August 2025 – Enterprise National League South – The Raymond McEnhill Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Will Jenkins Davies’ first goal for Bath City earned the Romans their first win of the season.
The midfielder capitalised on a familiar high press from Darren Way’s side to record a fourth straight win over Salisbury.
The Whites threatened more in the final 20 minutes as they searched for a first goal this campaign.
They should have had it through the most unlikeliest source – goalkeeper Will Buse – who hammered over in added time with the goal at his mercy.
Brad Ash and Alex Fisher were rewarded with impressive substitute appearances as they started in place of Ewan Clark and Scott Wilson.
Inside a minute Ash received a delicate ball over the top from Dan Greenslade, cut inside of Matt Briggs and curled a yard wide of Buse’s left post.
Jenkins Davies shot too close to Buse from 25 yards before he was required at the other end to prevent an opener.
Briggs’ drilled corner was met on the volley by Tom Davies, whose effort was blocked by the outstretched leg of Jenkins Davies and away for another corner.
Ollie Tomlinson’s incisive through ball picked out Fisher, but the forward blazed over from 18 yards.
The forward made up for it with an assist on 41 minutes.
Taylor Foran was robbed by Ash some 30 yards from goal, and suddenly the Romans attacked with menace.
Fisher played it to Jenkins Davies, who edged away from Owen Dore and struck low across Buse, just out of his reach, to make it 1-0.
Salisbury introduced Noah Coppin for Josh Keeya at the break and created the first second half opening with the impressive Jordan Ngalo pulling wide from 20 yards having ridden a challenge from Jordan Tillson.
Brian Dutton’s men continued to probe. Dore’s delightful crossfield ball found Briggs, who cut inside of Greenslade before his goalbound shot appeared to flick the back of Coppin before flying wide.
Wilson replaced Fisher with 20 minutes left and his presence allowed an opening.
The substitute was held to the ground by Rob Atkinson but referee Bolland played a good advantage for Ash, who drilled just wide with Buse at full stretch.
Coppin was denied by the legs of Harvey Wiles-Richards after Ollie Bray’s nutmeg on Jack Batten put the forward through.
Mitch Beardmore and Clark came on as City changed shape with Batten replaced alongside the exhausted Ash.
The replacements combined having won the ball high with Clark’s pull-back put behind by Ngalo as Wilson waited for a tap-in.
Bray struck over via a deflection and Tommy-Lee Higgs diverted wide on the stretch as the closing stages saw Salisbury up the ante and ask questions of the visiting defence.
Joe Raynes typified City’s commitment as he threw himself in the way of Atkinson’s shot in the fifth of five minutes added on to force another Salisbury corner, where they nearly levelled in extraordinary circumstances.
Briggs’ floated delivery slipped through the grasp of Wiles-Richards onto the boot of opposite number one Buse, sent up for the set-piece, but he walloped over from a yard out when it was easier to score against his former club.
Beardmore nearly rubber-stamped three points with the last attack but he guided wide from Clark’s intelligent pass.
The final whistle swiftly followed as City’s players and supporters enjoyed their latest success over Salisbury, who must be sick of the sight of Darren Way’s side.
Att: 1190
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Tomlinson, Batten (Beardmore 83), Parselle (c), Jenkins Davies, Ash (Clark 83), Fisher (Wilson 70), Tillson, Russe. Subs not used: Horsell, Sweeten, Matthews.
Scorers: City – Jenkins Davies (40); Salisbury – none
City Bookings: Raynes (45+1), Tillson (76), Greenslade (90+6)
Officials: J Bolland, S Mitchem, M Smith, R Ablitt (4th)