National League South Bath hit back to beat Oxford
BATH City ended their league campaign on a winning note with a 2-1 victory over Oxford City at Twerton Park, despite a first-half red card for Jordan Dyer, .
The visitors showed their play-off credentials during the opening half-hour, as Max Harris twice produced top-class saves and Luke Spokes blocked another effort off the line.
The afternoon got even tougher for the Romans on 35 minutes when Dyer received an incredibly harsh second caution – just three minutes after seeing a first yellow – to leave them a man down.
Within six minutes, Oxford took full advantage of the referee’s generosity, Josh Parker lashing the ball home after a blocked effort broke kindly to him.
However, Bath stunned the Hoops with two quickfire goals in the opening exchanges of the second half. On 49 minutes, great work by Scott Wilson saw him cross for substitute Opi Edwards to side-foot home from close range.
Two minutes later, Jack Batten was fouled in the box and Wilson stepped up to score his 23rd goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Knowing defeat could deny them a vital third-place finish, Oxford pushed forward in search of a way back into the game. Parker and Alfie Potter missed great chances before Harris again came to City’s rescue with a great near-post block on 79 minutes.
Two minutes later, Wilson could have secured the win, racing clear but seeing goalkeeper Chris Haigh block his shot. Batten then produced another brilliant goalline clearance and this turned out to deny the visitors.
slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Ruardean Hill Rangers.
The game was only five minutes in when Alex Stephens made a great run from halfway, beating three defenders before slotting past Lewis Jefferies to put Hill in front.
Finley Jones made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute, and Josh Sladen added a third late on.
In a mid-table clash, suffered a 2-1 defeat at Frampton United.
Frampton opened the scoring on 23 minutes when a free-kick played into the box was controlled by Will Hawes on his chest and he turned and shot, which was parried by Ashton Trott and Tom Mangan followed up to head home.
Frampton made it two just before half-time when Hawes scored with a tap-in. On the hour, Wick pulled one back when Joe Beardswell slotted the ball in following a free-kick.
Wick had a chance to rescure a point but Beardswell had a penalty saved.
Finally, there was little to write home about at Fairmile Gardens where came away with a creditable 0-0 draw against Gala Wilton. Second-bottom Patchway are now two points behind Quedgely, with two games left for both sides.