Match Report: Bath City 1 Torquay United 0

Bath City 1
Frear 10

Torquay United 0

An early strike from Elliott Frear condemned Torquay United to a frustrating 1-0 defeat at Bath City and the Gulls still have work to do over the final two games to definitely secure their National league South status.

United interim manager made just one change from the 2-1 win at Truro City, Ethon Archer replacing Duane Ofori-Acheampong, and there were spots on the bench for youngsters Calum Thomas and Jacob Wellington.

Archer, who was very bright at Truro, almost lathed on to a long ball over the top in the opening five minutes but Bath responded with what turned out to be the winning goal, Frear finding room in the box to volley a Scott Wilson cross beyond the exposed Mark Halstead.

The Gulls were rocked by the goal and struggled to find any attacking impetus in their play. The dancing feet of Archer did offer some promise and one cross, aimed at Brad Ash, was only just intercepted by home stopper Will Buse.

Arkell Jude-Boyd, the source of some many United goals in the past few weeks had a dig from distance that was safely gathered by Buse, who then ended his competent half with another comfortable save from Archer.

Bath also carried a consistent threat, Jordan Dyer inches away from a dangerous cross by Frear, and the home side also made a bright start to the second period, Dyer volleying narrowly wide from a corner.

A Brett McGavin was saved by Buse before a sweeping move from the Romans ended with Cody Cooke just failing to finish a lovely pass from Dan Hayfield. United tried to respond with a McGavin cross just evading the late run of Asa Hall.

As the game entered the latter stages, United continued to toil in search of a leveller but there is a lack of real potency in their play. Ash did have one last chance but Buse tipped his effort wide and United will need to quickly regroup for the midweek trip to Taunton.

Bath: 1 Will Buse; 3 Dan Greenslade, 4 Jordan Dyer, 5 Jack Batten, 6 Kieran Parselle (capt), 8 Dan Hayfield, 9 Cody Cooke, 10 Tom Smith, 11 Elliott Frear, 17 Scott Wilson, 21 Ephraim Yeboah (7 Ewan Clark 61). Substitutes (not used): 2 Joe Raynes, 12 Duncan Idehen, 20 Isaac Vassell, 23 James Alabi.

Booked: Yeboah 39, Batten 52, Smith 70, Wilson 82

United: 1 Mark Halstead; 2 Arkell Jude-Boyd, 4 Tom Lapslie, 8 Asa Hall (capt), 11 Brad Ash, Brett McGavin (5 Austen Booth 82), 18 Will Jenkins Davies, 21 Dean Moxey (capt), 23 Ollie Tomlinson, 27 Jack Stobbs, 30 Ethon Archer. Substitutes (not used): 22 Rhys Lovett (GK), 24 Calum Thomas, 34 Jacob Wellington.

Booked: Hall 62

Attendance: 2,772