Romans check out with big win against strugglers
Bath City produced a prechristmas treat against a struggling Welling United side who suffered their biggest ever defeat at Twerton Park.
With twice former PDC World Champion Gary Anderson in attendance, City checked out of their home in 2023 with a resounding win, scoring twice in each half against the hapless Wings.
Scott Wilson and Jordan Thomas recorded their first league goals since November 7, with Dan Hayfield and Cody Cooke chipping in after the break.
The recalled Elliott Frear had a hand in the first three as the Wings couldn’t get to grips with the attacking menace shown from Jerry Gill’s side.
Welling arrived at Twerton with the worst away defensive record in the league but didn’t look perturbed in the opening ten minutes, knocking the ball around comfortably albeit without much attacking threat.
In response, City had the penetration required to keep the crowd on their feet. Thomas’ trademark cut inside and shot was well beaten away by Reice Charles-cook and the winger was involved in the opener midway through the first half.
Having initially led the charge on the counter, Thomas’ work led to the ball finding Frear wide left in space.
His pinpoint centre was superbly directed home via the head of Scott Wilson, glancing in his 15th goal in all competitions this campaign and City’s 50th already since the season’s opener.
Another lightning counter almost made it 2-0. Thomas and Tom Smith linked up down the right, the latter’s pull back from the byline was perfect for Frear, whose header from ten yards was put behind by the legs of Charles-cook.
Hayfield scooped over from eight yards with Frear again involved before the left-sided player played a part in the second just before halftime.
Some silky footwork saw him evade Ike Orji before his telling ball saw Smith’s miscued shot fall perfectly for Thomas, who kept a cool head to blast into the top corner from close range.
Wilson blazed over just before the whistle as the break was a welcome one to the visitors, who went to two up top for the second half to try and salvage a result.
The extra attacking impetus nearly bore fruit on 49 minutes. Cameron Green’s persistence saw him slip the ball in behind to Tristan Abrahams, but the Wings’ leading marksman shot too close to the advancing Will Buse, who appeared to block with his face.
City made their first telling attack of the second half count. Dan Greenslade’s glorious cross-field ball was controlled by Frear, who cut inside and his delivery was glanced in by Hayfield, a near identical header to Wilson’s opener.
Jordan Dyer nodded Frear’s cross against the bar with Wilson unable to connect with the follow-up before Welling were spared any more punishment by the on-song winger, who was replaced by Ewan Clark with 16 minutes remaining.
United blew the chance of a consolation soon afterwards. Antony Papadopoulos did well to find Kain Adom in the box, the attacker skipped around Buse and went to ground under no contact before seeing the ball ricochet off Dyer into the net. Celebrations were cut short as Adom was cautioned for the blatant dive, adding to their misery.
It got worse for Danny Bloor’s charges as they conceded a penalty on 87 minutes. Thomas’ attempt to skip around Jephte Tanga saw him bundled over in the box and substitute Cooke converted his eighth penalty this term to wrap up a handsome victory.
“We knew we hadn’t had enough W’s on the board over the last few games,” said Jerry Gill after seeing his side end five without success in National League South.
“We’ve been trying to work on how we can create more chances and score more goals.
“The pleasing thing is it’s four separate goalscorers as well.
“Welling have got some really dangerous players. They’ve beaten Yeovil 4-1 at home, for instance.
“It’s the start of a process for Danny [Bloor, Welling manager], he’s trying to get that unity there.”
While Welling didn’t field a single player in their starting XI from this corresponding fixture 12 months ago, City’s 14 called upon had made 1,439 appearances between them.
“You can see the relationships from this group,” said Gill.
“You see the shape behind the ball and the patterns we’re trying to play.
“We felt like they’d gone away from us a bit in the last couple of games but you won’t get it right every week.
“Some of our passing and crossing was wonderful. We still created lots of chances despite going to a back five in the second half.
“We can play any style we want and adapt – it’s so important.”