Match Preview: Bath City (H) - 14th April 2026

Photo courtesy of Ben Cole

By Josh Cole

The Stags are at home for the final time in midweek in the 2025/26 campaign as we welcome Bath City to the Snows Stadium!

Last time out at home on Saturday we managed to beat Dorking Wanderers in an excellent performance! CLICK HERE to read the match report.

BATH CITY – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:

The Romans currently are sat in 22nd place, nine points adrift from safety with three games to go. CLICK HERE for the full league table.

After starting the season with a draw away to Worthing and a loss at home to Dover, Bath bounced back with two wins against Salisbury and Eastbourne Borough.

A draw against Ebbsfleet came after those wins, but they couldn’t carry on momentum as they went winless in their next seven matches, drawing two in the league and losing four.

The other loss came in the FA Cup second qualifying round away at Wimborne Town, in the division below. Bath won 4-0 at home in the Somerset Cup but after that, fell to yet another league defeat, losing to league leaders Hornchurch, 3-2.

Despite a home win against AFC Totton 2-0, Bath went back to losing two more league games in a row away at Hemel Hempstead and at home to Horsham. With a win against Slough on the 4^th of November, this started a little unbeaten run for The Romans, drawing two league games, and winning two matches, one in the league and the other, a penalty shootout win over Bracknell in the FA Trophy.

Unfortunately, this run didn’t last the whole month as a defeat to Weston-super-Mare in the league ended the five unbeaten run. They did go back to picking up results with a draw against Enfield and a win in the Somerset Cup against Odd Down (Bath), 0-4.

Bath have had success in cup games, but their league form continued to not be great, with a loss to Maidstone coming before another penalty shootout win in the FA Trophy, this time knocking out Dorking at Meadowbank. They rounded off December with a good win against Salisbury, a defeat in a derby against bottom-placed Chippenham and a 0-0 draw with Torquay at home.

This lead them into their big home draw against National League team Southend United in the FA Trophy where, unfortunately, their run was over, losing 1-3. In their last three games of January they managed a loss against Dover, a win against Worthing 3-2 and a 5-0 win in the Somerset Cup against Street.

However, following that win against Street, Bath City had 14 league games, in which they didn’t manage to win a single one, a run that spanned from the 14^th of February to the 31^st of March. In that run they picked up five draws and nine losses.

In their last three matches however they have won two and lost one giving them the slightest of hope to stay up in this league, although needing to win every remaining game.

LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON

Vs Dorking Wanderers | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Alfie Merritt 57’ & Christie Ward 65’

Vs Chippenham Town | Away | ENLS | Lost 2-0

Vs Salisbury | Home | ENLS | Won 2-1

Goalscorers: Tony Lee 37’ & Christie Ward 74’

Vs Chelmsford City | Away | ENLS | Drew 1-1

Goalscorer: Luke Hallett 90+6’

Vs Maidstone United | Away | ENLS | Lost 3-1

Goalscorer: Christie Ward 70’

LAST FIVE: BATH CITY

Vs Chesham United | Home | ENLS | Won 4-2

Goalscorers: Donovan Wilson 1’, OG 11’ & Scott Wilson 22’ 54’

Vs Torquay United | Away | ENLS | Lost 4-1

Goalscorer: Jordan Alves 19’

Vs Chippenham Town | Home | ENLS | Won 1-0

Goalscorer: Scott Wilson 90+4’

Vs Maidenhead United | Away | ENLS | Lost 3-0

Vs Eastbourne Borough | Away | ENLS | Drew 2-2

Goalscorers: Josh Laqeretabua 52’ & Alex Fisher 67’

COMPARING THE STATS (ALL COMPS)

OPPOSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH:

GOALIE/DEFENCE: Harvey Wiles-Richards

Bath-born Goalkeeper Harvey returned to Twerton Park in June 2024 following his release by Bristol City.

He began his career with City’s under-18 side, making his debut for the first team in an FA Trophy tie at Horsham in November 2018 as a 16-year-old.

He went on to make a further eight appearances over the following two seasons which earned him a trial with Bristol City toward the end of the 2019-20 season. He signed for the Robins during the summer and would go on to spend four seasons at Ashton Gate, playing regularly for their under-23 side and making the first-team matchday squad on a number of occasions.

He also had loan spells with Gloucester City, Hereford United and, Weymouth. He was named the Bath City player of the season for 2024/25.

MIDFIELD: MATT BOWMAN

Imposing midfielder Matt joined City at the end of October 2025 from Larkhall Athletic.

Born in Switzerland, he played at academy level for Servette FC in Geneva but wasn’t offered a senior contract. He moved to England in 2021, including a trial with Blackburn Rovers, to study Sports Management & Coaching at Bath University.

He joined the Development team at Larkhall and soon moved up to the first team. He was the Larks standout player for the 2023/24 season, including scoring against City in the thrilling FA Cup encounter, before returning to Switzerland the next year as part of his course.

A serious knee injury in pre-season side-lined him for the year before he returned to Plain Ham at the start of this season.

ATTACK: SCOTT WILSON

Striker Scott is now in his second spell with City, having returned to the club in July 2022, although he is probably best known at Twerton Park for the 90th minute goal he scored against the Romans for Weston Super Mare in March 2016 that preceded Tyler Harvey’s famous stoppage-time double.

After starting his career in the youth set-up at Bristol City he played for a number of West Country non-league sides, including a short spell with City during the second half of the 2013/14 season, before joining Eastleigh in the summer of 2016.

He spent a year on the south coast before moving to Macclesfield Town where he spent two successful seasons, scoring 25 times in 76 games. He joined Oldham Athletic in July 2019 before having spells with Notts County, Dagenham & Redbridge and Aldershot Town.

Scott has now played over 150 games for the Romans, reaching 50 goals against Chippenham Town on Boxing Day 2024.

Despite Scott only playing in 16 league games this season, he has scored six goals.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Said Ouchene

Assistant Referee 1: Thomas Copping

Assistant Referee 2: Tom Farlow

Fourth Official: Derrick Laing

GO STAGS