Bath City 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 79/22/2086 - Saturday, 25th February 2023 - National League South

Bath City (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Jack Wood 88
Attendance: 1,263

Admission: Pass
Programme: £3
Mileage: 335/5,565

Whoever would have thought that out of the disappointment of Monday evening at Chelmsford, this week would have ended as potentially a significant one, culminating with a late winner against Bath City to record a first victory against the home side at Twerton Park since 1958.

Jay Saunders seemingly has a knack of breathing new life into the season when, perhaps, supporters had felt that a good season might slip quietly away.

On Thursday, those supporters hopes were lifted with the news that Tommy Wood was to return to Tonbridge Angels from Hampton & Richmond Borough. It was a bitter disappointment when Wood decided to seek pastures new at the end of last season, seemingly a purely logistical decision based on his work commitments. But, when he became available, Saunders beat off other clubs seeking his signature and Wood was glad to return home.

Wood took his place on the bench with two other new signings in the starting XI. In goal, with Jonny Henly unavailable, George Bentley, late of Faversham Town, stepped into the breach whilst Marcel Elva-Fountaine, on a month’s loan from Aldershot Town replaced the injured Craig Braham-Barrett.

It’s a long way down to Bath, but a reasonably trouble-free journey saw arrival in good time. Twerton Park is a grand old ground, with a wonderful covered terrace the length of the ground opposite the main stand which is strangely set back. Both ends have no cover with the Bristol End having, by non-league standards, a large terrace. Sadly, there is a fine line between a ground that has character and one that is close to being derelict. Whilst Twerton is in need of some tender, loving care, it does still fall into the character side of the line, Welling being the example of a ground falling the wrong side of the line.

On a difficult pitch, they game was destined not to reach the heights in terms of quality, but the throng of around 60 Angels fans were not to worry too greatly about that at the final whistle.

News of Henly’s absence had been kept under wraps and with memories of his last absence, at Taunton, remaining in supporters minds, an early comfortable collection of a cross by Bentley was greeted with some relief.

In the opening half-hour, Bentley was only once called into serious action, saving from Tom Smith whilst Angels had chances on seven minutes when Tariq Hinds' shot was saved and on 15 and 17 minutes when crosses from Lewis Gard begged a touch in front of goal.

Gard was to play no further part after 34 minutes when, feeling unwell, he was surprisingly replaced by Tommy Wood, when a midfield replacement in Tommie Fagg was on the bench.

The home side’s best chance of the first half came in the final minute when Kieran Parcelle shot wide following a corner.

The second half was hard work for both sides with chances thin on the ground. After 62 minutes, Bath’s Dan Hayfield saw his effort come back off a post and for the Angels, Wood fell agonisingly close to getting on the end of Jordan Greenidge’s cross.

With five minutes remaining, Saunders rolled the dice for the Angels with a double substitution full of attacking intent with Fagg and Jack Wood entering the action. On 85 minutes, heroic defending was needed to deny Hayfield before, on 88 minutes, Jack Wood received the ball some 25 yards from goal, skipped a couple of challenges before firing in a shot from 20 yards across face of the goal to nestle into the bottom corner.

It was a wonderful leaving present from Jack Wood, whose loan spell from Southend expired after this game.

So it was, brave substitutions, a superb winning goal and stout defending brought a result that renews the hope of an end-of-season place in the play-offs.