Worthing (1) 1 Bath City (0) 1 – Saturday 9 August 2025 – Enterprise National League South – The Sussex Transport Community Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Mitch Beardmore’s stoppage time header earned Bath City an opening day draw at 10-man Worthing.
The hosts had taken the lead through Brad Dolaghan on his second debut for the Rebels.
That was shortly before captain Joel Colbran saw red for a late challenge on Luke Russe.
Worthing looked set to hold on to a point before substitute Beardmore nodded in Will Jenkins Davies’ cross to leave them crestfallen.
Jenkins Davies was the only debutant in the starting XI for City, the fewest for them on an opening day since 2007 at Bromley.
Worthing only had three newbies themselves from the off with Seb Stacey in goal alongside defenders Harry Ransom and Toby Byron.
The three of them were keen to try and play out from goal kicks. It nearly cost them inside two minutes when City hunted in packs and Glen Rea was forced to intervene on Ewan Clark, with a ricochet possibly coming off the Worthing midfielder’s arm, though no penalty appeals followed.
Dan Greenslade whipped in three corners to try and test Stacey, who’d conceded eight on his Potters Bar bow a year previous, but the loanee stopper dealt with the trio of deliveries well.
Worthing had their fair share of possession without threatening the City back three, but they eventually combined to take a 29th minute lead.
Temi Babalola’s strength saw him hold off Ollie Tomlinson allowing Jack Spong to take over. He touched the ball on to Dolaghan, who did well to fend Kieran Parselle away before rolling the ball under Harvey Wiles-Richards.
It was a dream return for the forward, back for a second spell a year after leaving for West Ham United.
Dolaghan’s good work was nearly undone inside three minutes when Byron’s stray ball from a goal kick was picked up by Tillson, who found Joe Raynes on the corner of the penalty area.
The Bathonian’s arrowing strike was a comfortable height for Stacey, who batted away.
Odei found himself clear for the hosts down the left but was possibly distracted by options in the middle as his tame effort was kept out by Wiles-Richards, who was grateful to see the rebound evade Dolaghan.
With four minutes of the half remaining, Worthing were reduced to 10 men. Spong sold Colbran short with a pass on the halfway line, and Russe nipped in before being caught on the shin by the hosts’ captain.
Referee Charles Martland deemed it serious foul play and showed a red card, Worthing’s 10th since the start of last season.
They reverted to a 3-4-2 formation and started the second half brightly, blowing a golden opportunity on 50 minutes to make it 2-0.
Stacey’s ball over the top was missed by Jack Batten and left Dolaghan one-on-one, but with Wiles-Richards advancing he placed it wide of the City stopper.
Scott Wilson was well denied by Stacey after Jenkins Davies’ clever reverse ball saw him wide of goal against the Worthing keeper, who was quick to close him down at the expense of a corner.
Chris Agutter freshened up the home side’s attack with Bailey Smith and Nathan Odokonyero on for Dolaghan and Babalola. Smith, who scored four in pre-season, nearly carried on the momentum as his low drive was blocked by the legs of Wiles-Richards, who was possibly put off by Odokonyero’s presence in his eyeline.
They went even closer when Joe Cook headed Sam Packham’s corner against the post, and Byron was frustrated from a smart Wiles-Richards parry after the centre-back had stayed forward.
Brad Ash was one of three substitutes utilised by Darren Way as a change of shape saw Batten replaced.
The striker’s exquisite first touch from a hanging ball wasn’t matched by a finish, as Stacey easily took his resulting shot.
Beardmore blazed off target from the edge of the box as Russe’s corner was cleared out to him, but he made no mistake closer to goal.
With the clock just ticking past 90 minutes, Raynes found Jenkins Davies wide right, who just kept the ball in before bending in a super ball for Beardmore.
The diminutive midfielder readjusted well to head past Stacey, the keeper only able to help it in.
Jenkins Davies fired a free-kick against the wall in an eventful added time, which saw Worthing nearly snatch all three points.
Packham’s teasing ball to the back post saw Greenslade almost inadvertently help the ball past Wiles-Richards, who reacted sharply to keep it out.
The final whistle went seconds later and the visiting players’ reaction showed that they were happy to claim a point against a side that missed out on the title last term by the same tally.
Att: 2028
City’s Line-Up: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Tomlinson, Batten (Ash 68), Parselle (c), Jenkins Davies, Wilson (Fisher 77), Clark (Beardmore 77), Tillson, Russe. Subs not used: Horsell, Sweeten, Matthews.
Scorers: City – Beardmore (90+1); Worthing – Dolaghan (29)
City Bookings: Greenslade (7), Tillson (56), Jenkins Davies (66)
Officials: C Martland, J Osofa, A Cross, C Hardingham (4th)