Match Report: Bath City

With just two minutes gone, Lenny Holden was called into action to deny Brad Ash. Bath kept up the pressure and although Jo Raynes’ long throw was cleared to the edge of the box, Scott Wilson arrived to lash a fine finish into the right side of the net.

Maidstone looked to respond quickly and they went close when Charlie Binns denied Riley Court with a smart save at his near post. But Bath were looking dangerous when they attacked and on nine minutes, Wilson’s low shot had Holden beaten and it went inches wide.

The Stones began to enjoy a greater share of possession as the half went on. With 26 minutes gone, Steve Gilbert crossed for Hamzad Kargbo whose header went over the bar.

Not long after this, some excellent battling play from Jephte Tanga nearly paid dividends. Tanga won the ball deep in the Bath half and surged towards the box. He spotted the opportunity to shoot from a tight angle and the ball took a slight deflection before Binns made a good save to push it away from goal.

With half time imminent, and with some of the results going in the Stones’ favour at this stage, the Romans doubled their lead. Alex Fisher was played in on goal and Holden did well to parry his effort but once again Wilson was well placed to rifle the ball into the unguarded net.

Early on in the second half, Holden tipped a dangerous corner from Danny Greenslade over the bar before a spell of Maidstone substitutions which eventually lead to the game turning in the Stones’ favour. Jamie Yila, Christie Pattison and Mark Boruk all came on as Tanga, Gilbert and Kargbo were replaced.

In between, Ash’s rising effort nearly caught Holden out but the Maidstone keeper did hang onto the ball at the second attempt.

With 20 minutes to go, two of the Stones’ substitutes combined as Maidstone pulled a goal back. Boruk lifted the ball into Yila and from an acute angle, Yila threaded the ball through a small gap and into the net.

By now, it was clear that the Stones faced an uphill battle to make the play-offs but they gave themselves hope when they equalised on 85 minutes. Bath were unable to clear a corner from Court and George Fowler fired the ball past Binns

As the game moved into stoppage time, and the other games started to finish, Maidstone’s play-off ambitions were extinguished but they finished the season on a high. Six minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game, a corner lead to a scramble in the box and Mark Boruk got the vital touch to cap a memorable afternoon for the Stones.

Bath City: Scott Wilson 3, 43

Maidstone United: Jamie Yila 70, George Fowler 85, Mark Boruk 90+6

Bath City: 24. Charlie Binns, 2. Jo Raynes, 3. Danny Greenslade, 4. Ollie Tomlinson, 6. Kieran Parselle, 9. Scott Wilson, 11. Brad Ash (27. Jaiden Putman 82), 14. Alex Fisher (7. Jordan Alves 65), 22. Matt Bowman, 48. Josh Laqeretabua (34. Reubin Sheppard 63), 59. Donovan Wilson (19. Luke Russe 38). Subs not used: 1. Harvey Wiles-Richards, 15. Louis Sweeten, 17. Mitch Beardmore.

Maidstone United: 13. Lenny Holden, 3. Leo Hamblin, 4. Lexus Beeden (2. David Sesay 64), 5. George Fowler, 6. TJ Bramble, 7. Jephte Tanga (14. Mark Boruk 68), 8. Sam Corne (25. Ashton Mitford 90+3), 10. John Gilbert (11. Jamie Yila 55), 17. Riley Court, 23. Hamzad Kargbo (20. Christie Pattisson 55), 24. Taylor Foran. Subs not used: 1. Nathan Harness, 21. Malachi Mbogba.