Late equaliser pegs back Romans after Stearn’s hat-trick

A ROSS Stearn hat-trick wasn’t quite enough to earn Bath victory in an action-packed clash at Wealdstone.

Despite leading 2-0, and then 3-2 in the closing stages of the game, the Romans could not hang on and conceded a last-minute equaliser.

Bath began the game strongly, racing into a two-goal lead. With just four minutes on the clock, good work from Frankie Artus and Adam Mann saw Stearn score with a great left-foot shot. And, ten minutes later, Joe Raynes set up Stearn for another shot from outside the box that wrong-footed keeper Jonathan North.

The hosts began the second half on the front foot, playing down the Grosvenor Vale slope, but Bath weathered the storm and spurned a great chance to make it 3-0 on the hour, North denying Raynes after a great cross from Sean Rigg.

The Stones got an undeserved lifeline when Anthony Straker deflected a free-kick into his own net on 74 minutes and Elliot Charles equalised on 86 minutes with a penalty after Robbie Cundy was harshly adjudged to have handled.

Having been second best for nearly the whole game, Wealdstone suddenly looked the more likely winners, but it was the Ropmans who went back front with Stearn completing his hat-trick from close range.

However, Charles had the final word with the equaliser after the ball had broken to him in the box.